Manteca blew two one-on-one opportunities in its 1-0 upset of visiting Sierra but the deciding goal took the unconventional route to the net at Guss Schmiedt Field.

Ramon Rojas scored on a bending corner kick in the middle of the first half for the Buffaloes (2-4-1 Valley Oak League, 5-7-1 overall). Frosh-soph call-up Matsua Garcia-Mendez and the defense took it from there, as he collected 11 saves.

“It’s a big win for us and we’re pretty excited,” Manteca Justin Coenenberg said. “The guys did a great job defensively and stuck to the game plan. We were able to outpossess them, for the most part.”

Although Sierra (5-1-1, 11-6-1) had more chances to score with a 13-9 shot advantage, Manteca’s attempts were more threatening.  It doesn’t get any easier for the first-place Timberwolves. On Monday, they head to defending champion Weston Ranch, which is coming off a surprising 4-1 loss to Oakdale.