Isela Rivera called it a “family moment” on the pitch.
It was impressive to everybody else in attendance Wednesday night at East Union, which hosted crosstown rival Manteca High for the final Valley Oak League girls soccer match for both squads.
Rivera’s highlight-reel goal sparked East Union’s 3-1 victory.
With the game still scoreless in the 33rd minute, freshman Isabela Rivera dropped a lob pass to her elder sister who was walling off a defender in the goal area with her back to the goal. Isela trapped it with her chest, turned and blew a volley shot over goalkeeper Jimi Guibor.
“Not too many girls take it off their chest and volley it in like that,” Manteca coach Justin Coenenberg said.
It’s not the first time she’s done it.
“It’s something that I practice and train for, so when something like that comes up I just react,” Rivera said. “After it hit my chest and I volleyed it I knew it was going in right away.”
Isabela has added another threat for the already-loaded Lancers. She is second on the team with 10 assists, while Isela, a sophomore, has 15 to go with 28 goals.
“I’ve never played with Bela, this is my first year playing with her,” Isela said. “She’s always played with our younger sister who will be here my senior year.
“Bela is a great midfielder. When she finds me I’m going to finish it for her.”
It was a strong finish to the regular season for East Union (13-0-1, 19-1-3 overall), which has earned its first VOL title since 2001 along with the overall No. 1 seed going into the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs.
After needing to come from behind to tie Kimball 2-2 last week, the Lancers appear to be back on track.
“The pressure of being undefeated just got to them,” Lancer co-head coach Juan Sandoval said. “You have to understand it’s a very young team, so they’re learning how to deal with that.”
The pressure was on Manteca’s defense for nearly the entire match on Wednesday, as the Lancers had a 20-2 advantage in shots.
“We know East Union has a prolific offense,” Coenenberg said. “Most games like this we don’t get a lot of shots of. Our strength is our defense and we have to capitalize on our opportunities.”
The Buffaloes’ back line hung tough for the most part, but it gave up two fluke goals in the second half.
Stephanee Sabala was awarded for her own hustle in the opening minute of the half. A Manteca defender attempted to clear the ball out of the penalty box but instead deflected it off the hard-charging Sabala. The ball ended up between herself and Guibor for a routine goal.
Manteca (9-3-2, 15-6-3) was revitalized by Sialei Manuleleua’s score in the 54th minute but was unable to threaten the rest of the way.
Madison Meyer helped set up the insurance goal for East Union. Meyer’s shot attempt from deep was redirected by a defender, and her ensuing corner kick was inadvertently touched in by a Manteca player near the opposite post.
The win came at a price for the Lancers, who lost standout center midfielder Regina Dias to an apparent knee injury in the 44th minute. Dias was bumped off the ball by Manteca’s Jasmine Odell, and she immediately shrieked in pain after hitting the turf.
“Losing Dias, even for a couple of days, is rough,” said East Union coach Jim Todd.
The loss may end up hurting Manteca, as it opens up the opportunity for third-place Sierra to overtake the Buffaloes for the coveted second-place spot.
Sierra faces Oakdale tonight in a makeup match. An Oakdale win gets the Mustangs into the playoffs as the VOL’s third seed. Sierra qualifies with a draw but can be on even footing with Manteca by winning.
The league’s No. 2 team opens the postseason at home against Livingston on May 15. Third place leads to a tough first-round draw with Vista del Lago on the road.
