The Ceres Youth Soccer Organization’s much-improved under-10 girls Earthquakes’ team collected three wins and one tie while finishing in third place at the Bill Meyer League Winter Tournament last month in Manteca.

“It’s a proud moment as a coach,” Earthquakes’ leader Anthony Crane said. “They fought extremely hard. They never gave up. That was a big key.”

Ceres edged Modesto-White 2-1 in a penalty-kick shootout for third place on Feb. 24 at Woodward Park.

Courtney Crane and Zaniyah Cornell both converted PKs.

Goalie Braidynn Mott blocked two penalty kicks.

“A win is a win but that’s special,” coach Crane said. 

Ceres and Modesto-White battled to a scoreless tie in regulation.

Each team scored once in overtime.

Lilia Calvillo accounted for the Earthquakes’ goal.

Ceres and Tuolumne-Conley tied 0-0 on Feb. 24.

The Earthquakes defeated the Merced Bears 2-1 and Stockton-Santiago 2-1 on Feb. 23.

“All of the games were extremely competitive, especially the last one,” Crane said.  “It was amazing to win in that fashion. It was intense.”

Ceres struggled to a 4-3-1 record during the BML regular season.

“They woke up for the tournament,” Anthony Crane said. “They were aggressive. They took a lot more shots. They stepped up when it mattered the most.”

The Earthquakes amassed a 7-3-2 overall record.

Ceres relied on all 12 its players this year, including Calvillo, Mott, Courtney Crane, Zaniyah Cornell, Amirrah Cornell, Ayleen Apreza, Sarryah Cabellos-Geter, Abigail Gibbons, Grace Graham, Miranda Gutierrez, Marilyn Jimenez and Emma Juarez.

“A lot of hard work and dedication on their part,” coach Crane said. “Once we got the team chemistry rolling, everything flourished from there.”