East Union’s Natasha Honore headed in two goals in the first five minutes Thursday night, and she added two more in the second half as the Lancers blanked Lathrop 5-0 in Valley Oak League girls soccer action at Dino Cunial Field. 

“We got those first two goals quickly,” East Union coach Carlos Gaspar said. “And then we had problems finishing and even got the crossbar a few times. We are struggling with our finishing. They are there because we are hitting the crossbars, but it didn’t help tonight because they have a really good goalie (Noelle Smith).

“Our girls moved the ball pretty well, switching fields, but we have to capitalize and put the ball in the net. In addition to the crossbars we even had an empty net. A lot of times the cross was there but the girls were not.” 

Taysha McGuire assisted Honore on her second and third goals, the assist on the second being an arcing pass right in front of the net for Cruz to head in. 

“It is easy to work with Hailey (Sims) on the side,” McGuire said. “Because we have good give-and-go passes and she sends good balls that are easy to cross.”

Honore's two header goals matched her previous career total for headers.

“It’s kind of hard to get a header with my size because I am 5-foot-2,” Honore said. “If I get the chance for a header I am always going to take it, and that ball from Taysha was gorgeous and I took the chance and I put it in the box.”

Honore's first goal came on a pass from Sims and her last — the last one of the night in the 59th minute — on a rebound of Jennae Ramirez’s shot. 

The Lancers (2-0 VOL, 7-3 overall) scored their other goal in the 57th minute on a goal by Taylor Campbell assisted by Ramirez. 

Smith tallied 10 saves for the Spartans (0-2, 3-3-1) and endured a 30-shot barrage by the East Union, due in part to Lathrop having four girls out with injuries. 

“We just wanted to survive this game,” Spartans coach Jose Montes said. “We wanted to get though it with no more injuries. In addition to the injuries we had three on vacation.

“It was East Union and we always have to play them hard, but tonight we were climbing up the hill.”

Frosh-soph

East Union 15, Lathrop 1

Kaylee Gines had four goals and Jasmine Mast three for the Lancers.

Breanna Flores got the ball in the net twice for East Union with Tiffany Liebelt, Jasmine Ruiz, Vanessa Markem, Kassandra Rios, Emma Stolarik and Melanie Gonzales each adding one goal.