ALL-VALLEY OAK LEAGUE SELECTIONS
Co-Coaches of the Year: Clarence Goes, Victor Polanco, East Union.
MVP: Giovanni Marin, Manteca sr.
First team
GK: Scotty McNeill, Oakdale sr. Def: Cruz Hernandez, East Union sr.; Anthony Martinez, Kimball sr.; Andres Garcia, Lathrop so.; Sergio Lopez, Manteca sr.; Gustavo Ruiz, Oakdale sr.; Alejandro Gonzalez, Sierra sr. Mid: Victor Garibay, East Union sr.; Justin Hopkins, Kimball sr.; Daniel Becerra, Lathrop jr.; Erick Noriega, Sierra jr.; Barrett McLaughlin, Sonora sr. Fwd: Jairo Baires, East Union jr.; Gilberto Duran, Lathrop jr.; Amir Guedoir, Sierra sr.; Joe Cahill, Sonora sr.; David Molina, Weston Ranch sr.
Second team
GK: Dominic Riella, East Union sr.; Omar Guzman, Lathrop jr. Def: Jose Luis Cerda, East Union so.; Brandon Basuil, Manteca sr.; Oral Nunis, Manteca sr.; Trevor Nunes, Sierra sr. Mid: Jordan Kron, East Union jr.; Alexis Hernandez, Manteca fr.; Ignacio Valdovinos, Manteca jr.; Ruben Lopez, Sierra jr. Fwd: Scott Fisher, East Union jr.; Marcus Montano, Manteca fr.; Javier Aguiniga, Oakdale jr.; Dominic Alejandre, Sierra sr.
Honorable mention
EU: Isreal Aldana, Miguel Barbosa. Kim: Brett Lassiter. Lat: Vicente Lopez, Felipe Gomez, Rafael Rubalcaba. Man: Brandon Dias. Oak: Oskar Nilsson. Sie: Bryan Ramos. Son: Cameron Armas, Shane Hopper
Clarence Goes and Giovanni Marin are going out on top.
In his 10th and final year at East Union, Goes and co-head coach Victor Polanco were awarded for leading the school’s boys soccer team to its best finish in nearly two decades. They were named the Valley Oak League’s co-Coaches of the Year after the Lancers captured the conference crown for the first time since 1993.
The season didn’t end there for East Union (11-1-2 VOL, 15-8-2 overall), which went on to reach the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV finals for the first time in school history. The Lancers lost 2-0 to Folsom powerhouse Vista del Lago in the championship round this past Saturday, but it was the most competitive game Vista had been a part of in over a month.
Goes announced his retirement after EU’s thrilling 1-0 win over Manteca High in the final match of the regular season. The victory secured the outright league title for the Lancers.
Marin, a senior at Manteca (9-3-2, 14-7-2), was voted the VOL’s Most Valuable Player. His 44 overall points (17 goals, 10 assists) tops all Manteca area players, and he produced nine goals for a league high. Marin’s best game came in a pivotal match against Sonora, as he contributed to every goal with two goals and two assists in a 4-0 win.
East Union ended up with the most representatives on the all-league team with nine, with two earning honorable mention.
Standout defender Cruz Hernandez, the league MVP in 2010 is joined by midfielder Victor Garibay and forward Jairo Baires on the all-VOL first team. Goalie Dominic Riella, defender Jose Luis Cerda, midfielder Jordan Kron and forward Scott Fisher were each named to the second team.
Second-place Sierra (9-2-3, 14-4-4) had seven players make the cut. Leading scorer Amir Guedoir (nine goals, eight assists overall), midfielder Erick Noriega and defender Alejandro Gonzalez are first-team selections, while forward Dominic Alejandre, midfielder Ruben Lopez and defender Trevor Nunes earned second-team spots.
For Manteca, Lathrop transfer Sergio Lopez was one of three Buffalo defenders recognized. He is on the first team, while Brandon Basuil and Oral Nunis made the second team. Ignacio Valdovinos was also picked for the second team, as were freshmen Alexis Hernandez and Marcus Montano.
Lathrop (4-7-3, 10-11-4) established itself as an up-and-comer in just its second varsity season. Three Spartans were tabbed first-teamers: forward Gilberto Duran (nine goals, four assists), midfielder Daniel Becerra and defender Andres Garcia. Omar Guzman was named a second-team goalkeeper.
Talented four-year varsity player David Molina is the only player selected for last-place Weston Ranch (3-11). His eight goals in league were among the conference’s best.
Isreal Aldana and Miguel Barbosa are on the honorable-mention list for East Union. Barbosa tied Marin for an area-best 17 overall goals, six coming in league play.
Sierra’s Bryan Ramos and Manteca keeper Brandon Dias also earned honorable mention along with Vicente Lopez, Felipe Gomez and Rafael Rubalcaba all of Lathrop.
