SACRAMENTO — It was back to West Campus and their hilly, awkwardly proportioned field for another Manteca Unified School District soccer team in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs on Tuesday, May 14 — and this game didn’t carry any less drama and controversy than the last.

Amidst yellow-cards, controversial calls and a game-changing penalty kick, Sierra found itself on the losing end of a 2-1 score, and was eliminated from the opening round of postseason play.

It was a little like the 2-0 loss East Union suffered in 2007 to West Campus, when a hand-ball near the box resulted in a red card that forced the Lancers to play the remainder of the contest a player down.

This time, aggressive play of both sides led to an emotional second half from coaches, players and spectators alike that awarded yellow cards to several players, even Sierra head coach Manual Pires was tagged.

West Campus scored first on a penalty kick from Megan Foy early in the contest, and watched Sierra tie after a sister-to-sister connection from Stephanie to Nicole Vanni.

The Warriors’ Scotie Walker added a mark early in the second period and hung on to advance into the second round.

Both teams managed 14 shots on goal while Sierra keeper Moriah Fallon pulled in six saves.

The loss capped a 20-6-1 season for Sierra, the Timberwolves finishing 12-2 for the Valley Oak League’s No. 2 seed, just behind first-place Sonora. West Campus won the Capital Valley Conference and is now 18-4-3 on the season, with an expected trip to the SJS finals next on the plate.