HUGHSON — Last week, Ripon High’s girls soccer team encountered the three toughest teams — Central Valley, Manteca and Vista del Lago — it is likely to face all season in a seven-day span.
The Indians lost all three contests in routs, but they saw the benefit of the experience in Tuesday’s Trans-Valley League opener at Hughson. Sophomore forward Cindy Alvarez scored two goals and assisted another in the 5-0 victory.
“We got to fine tune some things, get our positioning, rotations and formations down,” Ripon coach Jamie DeBruyn said. “When you do that against high-caliber teams, things fall into place a lot easier when you walk onto the field against teams you should beat.”
It didn’t take long for Ripon (1-0, 6-4 overall) to gain control. Alayna Swilley delivered the first blow in the seventh minute, working off a feed from Megan Johnson. Alvarez later assisted Alaina Cornilsen’s goal in the 26th minute, and the Indians had full command by halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Lysette Gamboa cashed in on a long-distance free kick in the 51st minute to make it 4-0. Alvarez netted the second of her two second-half goals in the 78th.
 Hughson (0-1, 1-7-1) was able to test Ripon goalie Courtney Slamon (five saves) a few times, but it was otherwise a dominant outing for the Indians’ defense.
“We played well today,” DeBruyn said. “I liked the creativity we had and the finishing. Four of our five goals were from outside the 18 (-yard line), so it’s good to see us striking the ball well.”
Ripon hosts Linden for a nonleague match on Thursday. It will just be its second game at home so far this season.
Southern League
Ripon Christian 1,
Gustine 0
GUSTINE — The Knights (1-0, 4-5) kicked off their title defense on Tuesday.
Bailey Broker punched in the deciding goal off a cross from Kelly Engel in the first half. Ripon Christian won the possession battle and had scoring opportunities throughout but could not build on its early lead.
“Every team knows each other well, so these are not easy games — especially on the road,” Ripon Christian coach Kevin Tameling said. “Gustine is a physical team and I thought our girls handled the pressure well. We didn’t allow too many chances for Gustine to get near our goal.”

Nonleague
East Union 2, Gregori 0
The Lancers completed their pre-league schedule Tuesday, getting goals from Arianna Cardenas and Chelsey Mederios.
Mederios scored the insurance goal with four minutes left, redirecting a cross from Jenna Zuniga.
“We played really well, especially in the first 20 minutes,” East Union coach Victor Polanco said. “We were moving the ball around from side to side and had a lot of chances.”
East Union (5-1) had six corner kicks and nine free kicks. The reigning VOL and Sac-Joaquin Section Division III champion begins Valley Oak League play Monday against visiting Lathrop.
“We’ve only lost one game, so I’m pretty happy,” Polanco said. “We just have to adjust some little things, but we’re pretty much ready to go. We have another good group this year.”

Weston Ranch 3,
Chavez 0
STOCKTON — The Cougars (5-1) continued their early-season tear with a road win.
Yvette Jaimes gave them a one-goal lead by halftime, and Carmen Robinson and Aileen Velasquez added one apiece in the second half. Lizbeth Ortiz assisted both second-half goals.