Hailey Cruz was a freshman when Sierra last won a Valley Oak League championship, which was split with rival Manteca.
On Monday, she got to celebrate a title-clinching moment on senior night, and this time, the Timberwolves have it all to themselves. Cruz recorded two goals and an assist, as they took care of Mountain House, 5-0.
Shayla Cline, Anayla McDonald and Leslie Reyes each contributed a goal.
“This is really nice, considering how far we’ve come since last year,” Cruz said. The T’wolves placed third in the VOL the past two seasons.
“We definitely put more effort in the practices, and overall, it just feels nice to accomplish something we’ve worked so hard for.”
Sierra (11-1 VOL, 20-3-2 overall) came into the season finale two points ahead of Oakdale (9-1-2, 14-9-2), which wound up tying third-place East Union (5-5-2, 11-10-3) in their regular-season finale, 0-0. The Timberwolves’ didn’t end up needing the result Monday to keep sole possession of the crown, but they’re glad to keep their current form heading into the postseason. They’ve now won nine straight since dropping a 2-0 decision at Oakdale a month ago and dealt a dangerous Mountain House (1-5-6, 1-12-8) side its worst loss of the season.
“For us to give our seniors as much of an opportunity (to play) as we did, I’m real proud of the result today,” said Manuel Pires, who has 18 VOL titles as Sierra’s only girls soccer coach.
“I know this team is a team that is last place, but if you look at their record, their games are pretty close— they’ve tied a lot of games.”
Although the Mustangs ended up with just one win overall, they’ve given most of their VOL opponents fits and lost by four or more goals for just the third time.
With Sierra starting all of its available seniors, 10 were honored before the game, Mountain House had chances to score the opening goal. The Timberwolves were able to weather the storm before the regular starters began subbing in at about the 13th minute.
The Mustangs had their best opportunities of the whole game in the seventh minute, when senior goalie Mele Sanchez came through with two saves on a breakaway. She first deflected Haylee Larson’s 1-on-1 try and recovered in time to block the follow-up from Latifa Makhkamova.
Those were two of the six shots Sierra’s back line allowed.
The tied turned in the 24th minute McDonald’s finish on a counter-attack. Haley Gama drove a long ball into space down the right touch line for speedy winger Leslie Reyes, who crossed it opposite post for McDonald to put it away with a deft half-volley.
Cruz then opened her account for the night just three minutes later, poaching a second-chance opportunity after Reyes’ initial shot clanked off the left post.
Sierra went into halftime with full control and the 2-0 lead.
“There was definitely some worry, but I knew we had it in us,” Cruz said. “Even us not having our normal starting 11, I knew our seniors could handle it.”
Cruz completed her brace in the 66th minute, stretching the advantage to 4-0 after intercepting a pass off a short Mountain House goal kick. She then delivered a through ball for Cline’s tally in the 70th minute.
Reyes scored in the 59th minute and was set up by an early cross from Maitland Kohoutek. Reyes blew by the last defender and touched it past keeper Kaitlyn Kiernan for the tap-in goal.
Sanchez finished with three saves for Sierra, while Amaya Pacheco had one in the second half to preserve the combined shutout.
The Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs begin next Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Junior varsity
Sierra 10, Mountain House 1
Ivy Sutton and Haylee Zeiher led the Timberwolves with two goals apiece.
Analia Carillo, Isabella Cruz, Kylee Pimentel, Mikayla Mercier and Kaylee Rodriguez each had one goal and one assist. Roxy Le scored once.
