Central Valley’s varsity boys soccer team finished in first place while competing at the Lancer Pride Cup for the second time in three years.

“It was a great team effort,” head coach Omar Leon said. “It’s just the beginning.”

The Hawks won all four of their games at the tournament hosted by East Union High School, Dec 6-7, in Manteca.

The event was originally scheduled to be staged at the Tracy Sports Complex.

“The conditions of the field at East Union were not ideal,” Leon said. “We didn’t want to go. But we went and made the best of it. It was a very good outcome.”

Central Valley took home a team trophy.

Hawk goalie Erick Martinez and forward Jesus Yepez were awarded individual trophies.

Yepez was named the tournament’s top scorer.

He totaled three goals and one assist.

“He was in the right spots at the right time,” Leon said. “He’s a very smart kid.”

Martinez was named the tourney’s best goalkeeper

He allowed just one goal.

“He did a fantastic job,” Leon said.

Central Valley edged McClatchy 1-0 in a rain-shortened championship game on Dec. 7.

Yepez accounted for the Hawks’ lone goal. 

Agustin Gutierrez collected the assist.

Martinez made two saves.

“The referees stopped the game 15 minutes into the second half because it was pouring rain,” Leon said. “It was slippery. It was not safe.”

Central Valley topped East Union 1-0 in the semifinals on Dec. 7.

Abel Calvo accounted for the game’s lone goal.

Gutierrez picked up the assist.

Martinez totaled four saves.

Central Valley opened the tournament with a 3-1 win over Buhach Colony on Dec. 6.

Gutierrez, Isaac Juarez and Leo Giovanni all scored one goal for the Hawks.

Calvo and Yepez both had one assist. 

Martinez tallied two saves.

Central Valley shut out Tracy, 2-0, on Dec. 6.

Yepez scored twice.

Marcos Covarrubias and Isaiah Castillo finished with one assist apiece.

Martinez had one save.

Central Valley’s junior-varsity boys team also placed first at the East Union Tournament.

The Hawks posted a perfect 4-0 record.

Central Valley notched wins against East Union (2-0), McClatchy (4-0), Kimball (2-1) and El Capitan (5-0).