Sophomore midfielder Bella Rivera kept the defense off-balanced.
Forward Meghan Wallace was a blur in the offensive third.
And Isela Rivera, the reigning Valley Oak League MVP, dazzled a large home crowd with a bicycle kick attempt.
East Union’s tour de force continued on Wednesday evening with a 2-0 victory over Buhach Colony in its home debut.
Wallace scored the eventual game-winner in the 15th minute and Isela Rivera converted a corner kick in the second half for the Lancers, who have six straight matches to start the season.
This latest victory completed a sweep of the Central California Conference’s brass. East Union has now topped Merced, Turlock and Buhach Colony – all three Division I programs – by a combined score of 7-0.
The Lancers outshot the Thunder 19-3.
“We played a confident game and went after every 50-50 ball like it was ours,” East Union coach Jim Todd said. “… I thought we controlled play most of the game.”
Ashley Almeida (two) and Anna Wood (one) combined for three saves.
East Union won’t have long to savor the victory. The Lancers host Patterson, the defending Western Athletic Conference champion, tonight at 5:30.
Lathrop 3, West 1
LATHROP – It has taken four years, but the Spartans finally have their first varsity winning streak.
Jasenya Barajas, Melissa Ponce and Yaneli Avila found the back of the net for Lathrop, which followed Tuesday’s narrow victory over Stagg with a 3-1 win over West.
Ponce and Avila have scored in consecutive games, but it was Barajas’ first of the season that set the tone.
She scored in the first half on the first of two assists by Sierra Downum.
Weston Ranch 4,
McNair 0
STOCKTON – Adriana Rodriguez, Jessica Amescua, Karen Segura and Alexcia Sanchez scored in Weston Ranch’s shutout.
SOFTBALL
Weston Ranch 10,
Stagg 0
WESTON RANCH – The Cougars stayed patient, even as Stagg struggled to find the strike zone.
When a pitch did cross the plate, though, Weston Ranch and Vanessa Contreras punished it. The Cougars rapped out 11 hits, led by Contreras’ 4-for-5 performance.
Cheyenne Crump and Lydia McDonald had two RBIs apiece as Weston Ranch extended its season-long win streak to three games.
Ripon 10,
Ripon Christian 0
RIPON – Alyssa Harris and Danielle Sperry combined for 16 strikeouts and four Indians collected multiple hits apiece in a mercy rule victory.
Darian Vandermaaten (double), Tiana Chacon (double), Cara Brown and Sperry each had two hits for Ripon (2-0).
Taylor Vernon also had a double in the game, which was called after six innings.
GOLF
Ripon 172, West 209
RIPON – All six members of the Ripon boys golf team carded sub-40 rounds in a season-opening victory.
Kyle Head earned medalist honors with an even-par 31. He was followed by Nick Sharp (32), Nathan Suender (36), Jack Brierly (36) and Cole Herrin (37).
TENNIS
Manteca 5, Oakdale 4
Peneet Sandhu earned the decisive point for the Buffaloes with a 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 victory.
Ripon Chr. 9,
Turlock Chr. 0
TURLOCK – Ripon Christian’s top singles players – Darren Boersma and Kristi VanDiver – held serve with straight-set, shutout victories.
