CERES – The Manteca Buffaloes made sure not to allow their recent Valley Oak League defeat to have any lingering effect, blowing past the Central Valley Hawks, 6-1, for their third consecutive win since a 3-0 loss to Sierra High April 15.
Manteca (11-2 VOL, 17-4-1 overall) scored early on in the contest when Lacey Silva made good on an assist from Sialei Manuleleua in the game’s second minute, sending a message early that the Buffaloes would be all business.
Manteca would add three more first half goals, heading into the intermission with a comfortable 4-0 lead. The Buffaloes would add their fifth goal when Rileigh Mankin scored via an assist from Airenne Curry eight minutes into the second half.
Manteca’s blowout victory was the third in a row of its kind, giving the Buffaloes a 26-1 scoring advantage over their past three opponents. Jimi Guibor is doing her part from the keeper position, turing away 10 Central Valley (3-7-2) shots.
“This was a real big week for us,” Manteca head coach Justin Coenenberg said. “Offensively, we put up some good numbers and only gave up one goal in three games. We were able to be a little creative this week, working in different lineups and playing girls at different positions to smooth things out.
“It turned out to be pretty productive.”
The win gives Manteca another few days of security in the VOL’s top-spot, holding a one-point advantage over the 10-1-2 Sierra Timberwolves. Oakdale and East Union are both on Sierra’s heels and both still have appointments against the Buffaloes. But Manteca first will have to worry about a visit from Sonora High before they can look towards the end of the season.
“I’m trying to keep them focused on one game at a time,” Coenenberg said. “We have a bye next week and get to focus on Sonora (Thursday). They may be down this year, but that’s a dangerous team that tied Oakdale.
“They definitely have some talent we have to look out for.”
“Some of our girls weren’t really used to the (artificial turf) up there,” Weston Ranch head coach Carlos Gaspar said. “They jumped on us quick, but we were able to make some adjustments and play a pretty solid second half.
“We got a lot of scoring opportunities, but we couldn’t capitalize.”
The Cougars will try and get back on the right track with a home game against the Oakdale Mustangs Tuesday.
Lathrop was unable to get anything going offensively, and proved incapable of slowing down a potent Oakdale offensive attack. The Spartans will try and snatch one of their final two contests, when they host East Union Tuesday and close out with Sierra High May 4.
Sierra 3, East Union 1
The Timberwolves remain in second place with a 10-1-1 record while improving to 14-3-3 overall.
Amaras Michaelis scored their first goal in the opening half, but Manteca trailed 3-1 by the break. Jasmine Odell booted in the game’s next two to tie it before Central Valley raced away with a late rally.
