Manteca was in full control of the game, but not so much on the shots it took.

“We just had the bad case of the shanks,” Coach Justin Coenenberg said of the team’s 3-1 victory over visiting Lathrop on Thursday.

Sammie Morris broke the ice with a goal in the seventh minute and assisted Manteca’s two early second-half scores. The Buffaloes (4-1 Valley Oak League, 12-3 overall) overcame a sluggish first half and put together some impressive runs at will for most of the second.

Chenayi Tavaziva and Sialei Manueleua scored in the 48th and 56th minutes off crosses from Morris, but Manteca could have and probably should have buried several more chances. Lathrop goalkeeper Callia Morales-Linnell (12 saves) deserves some of the blame, as she thwarted two one-on-one breakaways.

Manteca had another goal taken away by an offsides infraction. There was one gimmie that sailed well off the mark while Morales-Linnell wasn’t in position to protect the net.

“We missed opportunities that we definitely need to capitalize on,” Coenenberg said. “Credit to their goalie, though, she did a really good job.”

Manteca outshot the shorthanded Spartans (0-5, 4-10-2), 22-4. Stephanie Maduli scored Lathrop’s goal on a late penalty kick. Despite having three starters out because of school-related activities, Lathrop played well defensively and was able to pick up some steam on the offensive end in the final minutes.

“Once we converted the goal we started getting momentum, but we couldn’t capitalize on it and there wasn’t enough time left on the clock,” Lathrop coach Gabe Padilla said. “I only had 14 of our 21 players suit up today, but I thought we played aggressive and played very well.”

Manteca heads to East Union on April 2 after spring break, while Lathrop travels to Sonora on April 4.



East Union 6, Sonora 0

In Sonora, East Union (4-1, 12-1) fired five of its goals in the second half and got a hat trick and two assists from striker Isela Rivera. Meghan Wallace chipped in a goal and an assist before going down with an ankle injury in the final minute.

Bella Rivera and Aly Lecce each scored, and Kayla Lamont, Erica daSilva and Maddie Yslava recorded assists. The Lancers pounded three of their goals with head shots and held a commanding 28-0 shot advantage.



Frosh-soph

Manteca 6, Lathrop 0

The Buffaloes (4-1 VOL) had six different goal scorers: Esperanza De La Riva and Seely McAdams in the first half, and Allison Rachels, Juliana Penera, Morgan Rose and Ivy Benson in the second.



East Union 6, Sonora 0

Mandi Kay Roberts netted a pair of goals to lead the Squires. Nikkie Rodriguez, Kayle Lecce, Natalie Cardenas and Perla Juarez added one apiece.