MANTECA — Losing the likes of routine medalists Krysta Clark and Lyndsey Shoot to graduation certainly took its toll on the East Union High girls golf program — or so onlookers expected.

The Lancers, back with another talented crop of newcomers and a total of 14 members in the program, outshot Central Valley 237-350 on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at Manteca Park Golf Course.

East Union’s season opener was coach Brian Goulart’s first opportunity this year to see returning starters Jackie Ketner, Jillian Goulart, Frances Telles and Tori Souza.

Goulart led scoring with a 7-over-par 43, and Ketner shot a 45. Telles and Souza each fired a 47, and newcomer Katie Vott had a 55 in her first high school match. Chrystal Young had a 59 for the throw-away score.

Vott worked through difficult areas of the course to reach 44 after eight holes. She added 11 strokes on the ninth alone, but her impressive run to a potential 49 (if she had made par on No. 9) was enough to convince Goulart he had just found his fifth score.

“She was so nervous going into that hole, but she just played great,” Goulart said. “I’m thinking that we found ourselves a little stud player we have been looking for to fill that fifth spot.”

East Union qualified for the NorCal tournament last season. The Lancers cruised to a Valley Oak League title and snared a Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship.

Repeating last season’s performance won’t be easy with the departure of Clark and Shoot, but improvements from old faces and pleasant surprises from new ones leave Goulart with high hopes for another successful season.

“It’s a young crew, but these are the new-look Lancers,” he said. “I feel like the true reason we continue to improve is because these girls just work their tails off in a generation where a lot of kids don’t work hard. That’s the edge they all have, and I have to give them credit for the work they have put in.”