By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
HOME COOKIN
Funsch goal sends Buffs to semis
MHS GIRLS PLAYOFF SOCCER2 5-8-15
Kaitlynn Funsch (8) celebrates with Manteca teammates Natalia Duran and Leah Manuleleua (15) after scoring what would be the deciding goal in Thursdays Sac-Joaquin Section Division III quarterfinal against Pioneer at Guss Schmiedt Field. - photo by HIME ROMERO/The Bulletin

Manteca will take on 10th seeded Ponderosa in the second round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III girls soccer playoffs.

The No. 3 Buffaloes (21-4-1) earned another home match thanks to a 1-0 victory over Pioneer coupled with Ponderosa upsetting No. 2 Vista del Lago in second-round action on Thursday.

That game will be held at Guss Schmiedt Field at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Manteca coach Justin Coenenberg didn’t want his team to sit on a 1-0 lead.

“We needed to keep the pressure on,” he said. “But Pioneer was unbelievable – that was the best performance from goalie that we faced all year.”

She’s Alexis Mata, who just inked a full-ride scholarship to play goalie for the University of Hawaii.

Mata also came away a dozen saves including a few from point-blank range.

“This was a very physical game,” said the Patriots goal keeper. “But then again I’m used to that kind of stuff.”

The only goal took place in the 27th minute.  Manteca freshman forward Kaitlynn Funsch scored on a cross delivered by Lejla Pepic.

“I thought we would be OK from there, especially the way our defense was playing,” said Pepic.

In particular, Ivy Benson, Jasmine Basuil and Stephanie Gonzalez, who kept Pioneer in check for the most part.

After that goal, No. 11-seeded Pioneer (11-7-3) managed just three shots at the goal the rest of the way.

One serious threat occurred in the 67th minute. Alyssa Burch, Manteca’s senior goalie, came out on a corner kick and saw the ball slip past her grasp. Fortunately, her teammates were there to clear the ball out of harm’s way.

Burch had several key saves during the game.

“We’re not surprised since Alyssa has worked really hard on her game,” Coenenberg said.

He noted that the rain-slicked field made for an interesting game.

The Patriots had several scoring threats in the first half but Burch and her defense withstood the early pressure applied by the likes of Julissa Pedroza, Sofia Lopez and Alicia Pimentel.

The Buffaloes countered with Leah Manuleleua, Funsch and Pepic.

“Lejla was all over the field — she was back on defense to help out, she delivered several nice crosses (on offense)”, “Coenenberg said. “She’s what I call real gamer.”

In the 61st minute, Manuleleua just missed scoring a goal.

Manteca, however, continued to keep the pressure on Pioneer, just missing on a pair of scoring chances in the final two minutes.

“We had some decent scoring opportunities throughout the game,” Coenenberg added.

Pioneer coach Anibal Morales said that the one goal was a result of a miscue.

“We made a little mistake and it cost us,” he said. “But that’s soccer.”