Moriah Fallon makes a diving save for Sierra.

M.J. Gravina/Sun Post 

            It’s rare that a cross-town contest between two of the Valley Oak League’s top soccer programs surrenders to little emotion on the field, but neither Sierra or Manteca High could muster much in a 5-2 Timberwolves victory at Guss Schmeidt Field on Tuesday, April 29.

            Sierra had already lost a good chance at a VOL title with a defeat to East Union, and Manteca’s unexpected loss to Ceres had nearly erased the Buffaloes hopes at snaring one of the league’s top-three seeds into the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

            So as Sierra plummeted the Manteca goal for the last of five first-half goals, the inevitable became obvious.

            Manteca’s season was nearly over and Sierra’s was soon to take a strenuous turn for road playoff games and the difficult quest for a section title.

            “We can’t come into the last week needing to beat two of the best teams in the league,” Manteca coach Jon Avila said. “We lost the playoffs when we lost to Ceres here and Oakdale over there.”

            Manteca (7-6) will watch first-place Sonora, second-place Sierra and third-place Oakdale take on the best of the SJS in the coming weeks.

            For Sierra (11-2), that means a trip to Bear River High on May 13. The Bruins beat the Timberwolves in penalty kicks during the first round of the 2007 playoffs.

            Sierra put Manteca out of playoff contention with early scores from Grant Brooke (two), Nicole Vanni, Michaela Scott and Sydnee Koscielcki.

            “I thought we started really strong, created awesome opportunities and we put them away,” Sierra coach Manuel Pires said. “The whole first half — we played real good.”

            Manteca scored late in the first half on a shot from Renee Munson, and added a second-half score from a Megan Bassi penalty kick.