East Union head coach Ronnie Green knew his squad would need a critical victory at Manteca on Tuesday, along with help from another rival to secure a share of the Valley Oak League title on the final night of the regular season.

The Lancers completed part 1 of the plan with a hard-fought 2-0 win behind two goals from leading scorer Yandel Gutierrez.

“Yandel showed what it means to be a true scorer tonight,” coach Green said. “Credit to them; they limited his opportunities with one of the best defenders in the area, but he took advantage of the chances he had and helped us pick up a win we needed to stay alive in the league.”

After the win, the Lancers (10-1-1, 22-3-2) remained at Guss Schmiedt Field to watch the stream of the Sierra-Patterson match. They erupting as the final whistle blew, as 2-2 final at Patterson gave East Union its share of the crown. The title is the first since the 2022 season for Green’s squad after back-to-back second-place finishes.

Manteca (5-7, 11-11-4) did what it had done all season, making it difficult on its opponent from the opening whistle. Consistent pressure from the defensive unit led by Mateo Esparza limited chances from Gutierrez and the Lancers.

“They moved Yandel around, so he wasn’t just one-on-one with Mateo tonight,” Buffaloes coach James Burns said. “The rest of the back line, including Adrian Anaya, needed to step up to limit his chances, and we were able contain him, for the most part.”

East Union would break through 10 minutes into the match after Gutierrez earned a free kick outside the box. The sophomore forward stood over the ball and fired an absolute rocket past the outstretched arms of Manteca goalkeeper Alberto Gutierrez (nine saves) off the cross bar and into the goal.

“I knew coming in, Mateo was going to be aggressive,” Gutierrez said. “The plan was to try to create chances, but also draw fouls in dangerous places. I was able to do that there early and put a good shot on goal to beat a really good goalkeeper.”

Alberto Gutierrez kept Manteca in the match throughout the end of the first half and well into the second. Each time East Union pushed forward the junior keeper seemed to have an answer to keep the game within reach for his side

After Yandel Gutierrez went out with a knock after yet another fine save from Alberto Gutierrez, Manteca would find itself with more of the ball creating chances to level the score. Manteca’s best chance of the second half came as junior midfielder Eli Navarro found himself in space just outside the box. His shot was deflected by defender Elias Salgado straight into the arms of East Union goalkeeper Nickolas Zavala for one of his three saves on the night.

“The pressure we applied in the second half was real,” Burns said. “We were able to get the ball into space, we were just lacking that one final pass you need to score goals against a good team.”

The Lancers counterattack showed flashes throughout the second half, and would finally break through with just seven minutes left in the match. With Yandel Gutierrez back on the pitch, East Union’s defense won back possession and got the ball into junior midfielder Efren Ruiz, who had space to find Gutierrez with a through ball down the right side. Gutierrez would beat the Buffaloes keeper with a glancing shot off the far post for the insurance score.

“In weather like this, against a rival, you aren’t going to get as many chances,” coach Green said. “I’m proud of how the guys kept going forward when we had the chances to get us that key second goal you always look for in these close matches.”

Postseason soccer will start Saturday for East Union, who came into Tuesday’s contest third in Maxpreps’ Division IV Sac-Joaquin Section rankings.

“We’ll enjoy this tonight, then get back to work to get ready for this weekend,” Green said. “We could be as high as a two seed, depending on tonight’s results, which would put us in a great spot to make a run at a section title.”

For coach Burns, reflecting on Tuesday’s loss represented an opportunity to thank his senior class, led by the likes of Esparza, Anaya, and Jesus Gomez.

“Obviously, I am gutted that this is it for this team and those guys, but we’ve accomplished so much together,” Burns said. “The progress we have made as a program the last few years has been extraordinary, and I know we will look back in 2-3 years at this group of guys as being the ones who were the catalysts of change.”