The race for the fourth and final Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth is on in the Valley Oak League.

Reigning section and league champion East Union finds itself in the middle of it after battling visiting Central Catholic to a 1-1 draw on Wednesdsay.

The Lancers (5-5-2 VOL, 11-6-2) are locked in a three-way tie for fourth with Oakdale and Kimball. They have a tough closing stretch next week, heading to Oakdale on Monday before hosting first-place Manteca. Central Catholic (7-3-2, 11-4-2) clinched a postseason berth with the stalemate at Dino Cunial Field.

“We’re still fighting and we’re not giving up yet,” East Union coach Victor Polanco said. “We have two more games left so let’s see what happens. I’m proud of the girls today. They played to win but the ball just didn’t want to go in the net for us.”

Maria Andrade gave East Union the lead in the 24th minute, knocking it in following a corner kick from Arianna Cardenas. Lisa Archuelta scored the equalizer just four minutes later, getting a fortunate bounce that allowed the ball to skip over East Union keeper Marcella Salyer.

Sierra 13,

Lathrop 0

LATHROP — Kaleigh Doyle recorded two assists to go with a hat trick, and starting keeper Emma Broderick accounted for two of eight second-half goals in a dominant effort for unbeaten Sierra (9-0-3, 20-0-5). 

Freshmen Yasmin Ballew and Callie Crain added two goals apiece, and Jadyn Shinn scored one and assisted three. Briana Oseguera (goal), Kyndra Kiser (goal, two assists), Alison Bitle (goal) and Jessa Johnson (three assists) also factored into the scoring.