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GIRLS SOCCER: Immediate impact
Manteca freshman awarded All-VOL MVP
Bulletin girls soccer 2019-20
Manteca freshman Cameron Silva controls the ball before taking a shot against Christian Brothers in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship game. - photo by Wayne Thallander

She may only be a freshman, but Cameron Silva's impact was undeniable for the Manteca girls soccer team.

The talented midfielder helped lead the Buffaloes to an eight-point improvement from last season, and the Valley Oak League runners-up went on to achieve greater milestones in the playoffs. Rival coaches recognized Silva as the VOL's Most Valuable Player. 

Silva factored into the scoring in 10 of 12 league matches, finishing with 13 goals and seven assists. In a 5-2 win over Oakdale, she accounted for five goals and assisted the other. Overall for the season, including non-league play and the playoffs, she registered 21 goals and 14 assists. 

The Buffaloes (8-2-2, 21-3-4) had a prolific pairing in the skillful Silva and speedy senior forward Kaley Miller (24 goals, 11 assists), one of three area standouts to make the All-VOL first team for a third time. The duo steered Manteca's drive to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship, its second in school history. 

Manteca's only losses in the regular season were to league champion Sierra (12-0, 24-2 overall). Manuel Pires four-peats as Coach of the Year after guiding the Timberwolves to a fourth consecutive VOL title. He hit career landmarks this past winter, serving as the program's head coach for a 25th season while claiming his 500th victory. 

Bulletin girls soccer 2019-20
Jenna Villanueva, left, celebrates her goal with Sierra teammate Tiana Cello against visiting Kimball. - photo by SEAN KAHLER
Sierra has the most representation on the all-league first team with six players. Junior attacking midfielder/forward Tiana Cello headlines the group as a third-time selection. She was the second-leading scorer in the SJS with 44 goals and 15 assists for 103 points.

Other Timberwolves on the first team are junior striker Jenna Villanueva (27 goals, 19 assists), sophomore midfielders Juliana Rodriguez (four goals, 13 assists) and Preeya Singh (four goals, eight assists), sophomore defender Zoe Willson (three goals, six assists) and senior goalkeeper Michaela Bitle (21-1, 10 shutouts, 4.9 saves/game).

Junior midfielder Taylor McMahon (11 goals, four assists) is another three-time all-league pick after achieving this as a defender the past two years. She's the lone first-team member for East Union (6-6, 9-11-2).

Manteca junior defender Mia Treacy and teammate sophomore midfielder Caitlynn Wong (four goals, 13 assists) each earned their second all-league spot.

East Union's junior goalkeeping tandem of Malia Allen and Kylie Mendez is part of the All-VOL second team. Senior midfielder Taylor Campbell, junior midfielder/winger Hailey Sims and sophomore defender Natalia Ruiz are other Lancers to make the list.

Weston Ranch (0-12, 0-18-2) landed two second-team selections in senior midfielder Crystal Chavez and senior defender Angelique Moreno, as did Sierra with junior defender Melanie Nguyen and senior defender Juliana Munoz. 

Manteca's Esmeralda Ochoa and Jordyn Silva made honorable mention, as did Weston Ranch's Maria Medrano and Montserrat Ruiz Perez.

Bulletin girls soccer 2019-20
East Union’s Taylor McMahon blows a shot past the Manteca defense for a goal. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

ALL-VOL TEAM

Girls soccer

MVP — Cameron Silva, Manteca, Fr.

Coach of the Year — Manuel Pires, Sierra


First team — GK: Michaela Bitle, Sierra, Sr. DEF: Zoe Wilson, Sierra, So.; Mila Rawlins, Central Catholic, Jr.; Mia Treacy, Manteca, Jr.; Allyson Thompson, Kimball, So. MID: Fayth Hinojosa, Kimball, Sr.; Danya Gonzalez, Kimball, Sr.; Taylor McMahon, East Union, Jr.; Ashley Sams, Central Catholic, So.; Juliana Rodriguez, Sierra, So.; Preeya Singh, Sierra, So.; Caitlynn Wong, Manteca, So. FWD: Mariyah Hinojosa, Kimball, So.; Kaley Miller, Manteca, Sr.; Jenna Villanueva, Sierra, Jr.; Tiana Cello, Sierra, Jr.


Second team — GK: Kylie Mendez, East Union, Jr.; Malia Allen, East Union, Jr.; Victoria Rojas, Oakdale, So. DEF: Juliana Munozz, Sierra, Sr.; Melanie Nguyen, Sierra, Jr.; Natalia Ruiz, East Union, So.; Angelique Moreno, Weston Ranch, Sr. MID: Crystal Chavez, Weston Ranch, Sr.; Taylor Campbell, East Union, Sr.; Hailey Sims, East Union, Jr.; Ximena Vigil, Oakdale, So.; Kendra Branch, Oakdale, Sr.; Anne Dunn, Central Catholic, Jr.; Ruby Fink, Oakdale, So.


Honorable mention — Central Catholic: Sarah Soto, Harlye Holliday. Kimball: Elissa Giuliacci, Sarah Perdue, Charlize Castro. Oakdale: Maquel Besson, Jade Manriquez. Manteca: Jordyn Silva, Esmeralda Ochoa. Weston Ranch: Maria Medrano, Montserrat Ruiz Perez.