Sierra High’s girls soccer team kicked off the first of a brutal three-game stretch this week with Monday’s 8-0 blowout of visiting Sonora.
The defending Valley Oak League champion Timberwolves (3-0, 7-4 overall) are just hoping to end the week in one piece with several key starters nursing injuries, and allowing them to get some rest during Monday’s match was key.
Sierra will next face Oakdale on the road today and rival East Union at home Thursday. Both Oakdale and East Union remain unbeaten in VOL play.
“We have some kids who are just starting to get back, and we’d like to be able to keep them fresh for the whole season,” Sierra coach Manuel Pires. “It was important for us to get them some rest tonight.”
It didn’t take long for the T’Wolves to find their groove Monday.
Delaine Quaresma sent a beautiful cross to Diana Alfaro in the second minute, and Alfaro punctuated the sequence with a volley from near the right post.
Alfaro then assisted the first of Stephanie Vanni’s two goals in the 10th minute, and the rout was on. Quaresma, one of the Timberwolves’ difference-makers hobbled with an injury, would end up with two goals. She and Vanni each finished with two goals and an assist.
Mariela Pimentel added a goal and an assist, and Joanna Ortiz struck twice for goals in the second half.
“We put them on their heels with a lot of pressure early,” Pires said. “We had a lot of players making runs and finding each other, and that just set the tone right away.”
Freshman Sialei Manuleleua spearheaded the onslaught with two goals and two assists. Fellow freshman Sammie Morris added two goals and assisted another, Lacey Silva also scored twice and Jessica Reeder had three assists.
Brianna Flynn, Taylor Teixeira, Brittany Costa and Maureen Kvistad each contributed a goal.
“The girls never quit and were still trying at the end,” Lathrop coach Ryan Biedermann said. “I commend them for that.”
The defending Valley Oak League champion Timberwolves (3-0, 7-4 overall) are just hoping to end the week in one piece with several key starters nursing injuries, and allowing them to get some rest during Monday’s match was key.
Sierra will next face Oakdale on the road today and rival East Union at home Thursday. Both Oakdale and East Union remain unbeaten in VOL play.
“We have some kids who are just starting to get back, and we’d like to be able to keep them fresh for the whole season,” Sierra coach Manuel Pires. “It was important for us to get them some rest tonight.”
It didn’t take long for the T’Wolves to find their groove Monday.
Delaine Quaresma sent a beautiful cross to Diana Alfaro in the second minute, and Alfaro punctuated the sequence with a volley from near the right post.
Alfaro then assisted the first of Stephanie Vanni’s two goals in the 10th minute, and the rout was on. Quaresma, one of the Timberwolves’ difference-makers hobbled with an injury, would end up with two goals. She and Vanni each finished with two goals and an assist.
Mariela Pimentel added a goal and an assist, and Joanna Ortiz struck twice for goals in the second half.
“We put them on their heels with a lot of pressure early,” Pires said. “We had a lot of players making runs and finding each other, and that just set the tone right away.”
Manteca 10, Lathrop 0
The Buffaloes (2-1, 8-3-1) continue to soldier on with some of their top players battling a variety of ailments. Manteca had two more players exit Monday’s match with Lathrop (0-3) early, leaving it with just 10 healthy bodies.Freshman Sialei Manuleleua spearheaded the onslaught with two goals and two assists. Fellow freshman Sammie Morris added two goals and assisted another, Lacey Silva also scored twice and Jessica Reeder had three assists.
Brianna Flynn, Taylor Teixeira, Brittany Costa and Maureen Kvistad each contributed a goal.
“The girls never quit and were still trying at the end,” Lathrop coach Ryan Biedermann said. “I commend them for that.”
— Jonamar Jacinto
