Manteca’s Leah Manuleleua, left, of Valley Oak League/San Joaquin Athletic Association defends
Tri-City Athletic League’s Sarah Natera of St. Mary’s in a 3-2 win for TCAL.
STOCKTON – Despite the best efforts of the Manteca High and Sierra High girls playing for Valley Oak League/San Joaquin Athletic Association, Tri-City Athletic League snuck a goal through in the closing seconds in the Fifth Annual San Joaquin Soccer Alliance All-Star Game on Sunday at Lincoln High School’s Spanos Stadium for a 3-2 win.
With time running down and the ball in play in front of the SJAA goal, Tracy’s Ashley Hallen took a pass from Alexis Vilarino of St. Mary’s and found the net just before the final whistle sounded.
Manteca coach Justin Coenenberg came into the game riding high off his recent Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship win and coached the VOL/SJAA squad.
“This was a great year,” Coenenberg said. “And this was a great game – I coached it last year and we won on PKs. It looked like it was going to be another year for PKs but it didn’t turn out that way.
“It’s a lot of fun getting to know players you coach against all year.”
Buffaloes players had a foot in both VOL/SJAA goals.
Midway through the first half Leah Manuleleua took a pass from Manteca teammate Alexa Hayen and powered the ball in for a 1-0 lead.
“Lexa (Hayen) always does good,” Manuleleua said. “And that one was perfect.”
Hayen always has an eye out for Manuleleua.
“I always look for her,” Hayen said. “She is always the one that gets to it first.”
After TCAL scored twice, Manteca’s Josie Reyes got bottled up on the wing and dished the ball off to Bear Creek’s Alexis Brewah and Brewah got the goal to tie the game at 2-2 in the 43rd minute.
“It was a tough situation,” Reyes said of her assist to Brewah. “I saw her wide open so I got it to her.”
Sierra’s Kyndra Kiser did a good job patrolling the wing for VOL/SJAA.
“It was hot out there,” Kiser said. “But it was more fun than I expected.
“I kind of thought the girls might be kind of mean because of high school rivalries but once we got together everyone was super nice – on both teams even. There was no dirty play or anything like that.”
Sierra’s Emma Broderick had four saves.
“I was lucky that I was playing with my center defender from Sierra (Alison Bitle),” Broderick said. “But it was totally fun playing with different defenders and getting that experience and having to work on the fly.”
Manteca’s Natalia Duran also participated in the game.