Manteca’s Cami Silva scored less than two minutes into the championship game of the Buff Cup on Saturday and then with seconds left in the contest for the only scoring in a 2-0 win over Central Valley at Guss Schmiedt Field.

“We’re pretty dangerous up top,” Buffaloes coach Justin Coenenberg said. “Especially when we are able to play with Cami and Alexia (Alva) on top. It can happen fast.

“As far as the rest of the first half, it was a disaster. It was nice getting that one goal because nothing else went right for us and I got after the girls pretty good at halftime and we came out the second half and we were a completely different team. We were energized, we were winning 50-50 balls, we were connecting – the only thing we weren’t quite doing is finishing but to their goalie’s credit she made some great saves.”

The game started a few minutes early, so if you showed up at the designated start time you would have missed Silva taking an assist from Mackenzie Forsberg for a quick 1-0 lead. As time was running out Silva weaved her way through a number of Hawks defenders and blasted the ball into the net just before the final whistle sounded.

Coming into the game, Silva was tied with Caitlynn Wong for the record for the most goals scored in the Buff Cup at seven. Silva won the Golden Boot award for most goals scored in the tournament and set a new record at nine.

“This is my first Buff Cup so I was super excited,” Silva said. “I don’t finish playing club until early December, so this year I was able to play in it and we won it. I’m so happy.

“We really didn’t do the best in the first half, but I thought we really brought it the second half. Their goalie really saved them. I’ll give it to her.”

Brooklyn Cornish plays center deep for Manteca (10-1-1) and anchored the effort that held Central Valley from Ceres (6-5) to just three shots on goal in the second half.

“The back line is like the last line of defense,” Cornish said. “And you have to work as a team.”

Hawks goalie Magnolia Tavison posted 11 saves in the second half, including a couple of highlight-reel candidates on shots from Silva.

“She had a great second half today,” Hawks coach Humberto Luna said of Tavison. “She’s only a sophomore and this is her second year on the varsity.

“Today she definitely showed up. She came out big on a lot of one-v-ones and she held her ground and she came up big for the team today.”

Buffaloes goalie Haylie Brasil posted nine saves. Along with Silva and Cornish, Corrine Jones and Tatiana Orozco made the all-tournament team for the Buffaloes.

The Buffalo Cup was scheduled to be played Saturday, Dec 10, but inclement weather postponed the third-place and championship games. Lathrop played Los Banos for third place on Monday, Dec. 12, and the Spartans won in penalty kicks after regulation play ended in a 2-2 tie.

Manteca continues its non-league schedule today when the Buffaloes host Modesto at 6:15 p.m.