With its top returning player still unavailable, Lathrop is off to a sizzling start to the new season with victories over some of the traditionally most competitive programs in San Joaquin County.
The latest notch in the win column came at the expense of Manteca Unified rival East Union on Wednesday thanks to two second-half goals assisted by Omar Rodriguez.
The two teams traded four goals during a 10-minute stretch in the second half, but it was the Spartans who prevailed 3-2 in the battle of unbeatens at Woodward Park.
Lathrop improved to 3-0-1 with attacking midfielder Alan Hernandez, the reigning Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, wrapping up a tour of college-showcase tournaments with his club team.
Picking up the scoring slack with a goal each on Wednesday were Adrian Montanez, Eduardo Torres and Diego Alvarez.
Rodriguez hit Torres with a corner-kick cross to the opposite post for the headed equalizer in the 54th minute. Two minutes later, he centered it to Alvarez for the one-touch finish
Standout winger Andres Hurtado-Garcia added his third assist of the season, finding Montanez for the open-net tap-in just 2 minutes in.
“We’re deep,” Lathrop coach Alfredo Reynaga said. “Like I told them, I feel comfortable with everybody coming off the bench. So, I tell the players who don’t get a lot of minutes (to) talk to me tomorrow, let me know how you can help, where you can help and how you could have done a better job during the minutes you were in the game. We keep an open communication; make them feel like they own part of the team.”
After a listless first half in which they were limited to two shots that were blown well off target, the Lancers (4-1-1) came alive early in the second.
“We changed the system a little bit and pressed super high,” East Union coach Ronnie Green said. “We started the second half a much better team. Didn’t end up with the win, but I’m still proud of the boys. I have five starting sophomores and we’re missing some guys. For being such a young team, I’m OK with that loss. It was respectable.
“(Lathrop) played very well and out-possessed us, so they deserved it.”
The game momentarily changed in the 46th minute when sophomore striker Yandel Gutierrez touched it past Lathrop goalie Julian Ceja (two saves) after receiving a perfect diagonal long ball from defender Cesar Esquivel.
Another East Union defender assisted the next goal just a minute later. Cristiano Barajas sent a free kick for a near-post header from David Tafolla. The Lancers had some opportunities to build on the lead until Lathrop regained control.
“It happens when you fall asleep for a little bit, but we know they’re good,” Reynaga said. “We know a lot of these kids; we see them in clubs, and some have even played for me. So, we know they’re going to show resilience, and Coach Ronnie’s done a hell of a job with that program over the years. We knew that they’re going to come back and fight, but can you weather the storm? How are you going to react?
“They responded well and were able to adjust, and that was good to see.”
Overall, the Spartans outshot East Union 18-8 and had a 9-2 advantage on corner kicks. Nickolas Zavala collected four saves in front of the Lancers’ goal.
East Union and Lathrop are returning to Woodward Park on Friday and Saturday for the Lancers’ annual Ervin Mendiola Memorial Classico tournament. East Union begins with group-play matches Friday against Downey at 11:30 a.m. and Los Banos at 3:15 p.m., while Lathrop faces Sierra and Patterson.
