Varsity Girls: Lady Buffs Brightest Stars
By VINCENT MARTINEZ
The Tower
Manteca high’s main sports focus is normally our football team, some people don't realize and understand our Girls Varsity team for soccer.
The Manteca High girls' soccer team has college prospects and committed players, qualified for playoffs and is led by an amazing coach, Justin Coenenberg, a history teacher on campus.
There are three players on the varsity team that are either committed or a prospect, a player that isn’t committed that is still a top player, and a key piece of that team is Leslie Gutierrez.
Gutierrez is a sophomore that has played for Varsity. Her freshmen year, she wore No. 5 and played in the center midfield, a position known as the “6”.
She mentally deals with her position as being a game changer and any point of the game by “thinking about my next move and what I could do next, how I could make these passes and assists, and how I vision myself scoring as well,” Gutierrez said.
Brooklyn Cornish is a senior that is committed to the University of the Pacific. The tall, rangy center back is a goal scorer with four goals all coming off headers.
Cornish has also won Player for the Match, as awarded by the coaching staff, which shows her consistency during the start of the year.
Cornish believe that this year’s playoff run will be special.
“I'm excited, I feel like our team is really good, and we can make a good play-off run,” Brooklyn spoke.
“As this is Brooklyn’s last year playing high school soccer, she enjoyed playing every single bit of it as she now when she leaves high school and goes to college; she’ll show her talents and her potential at her committed school.
Manteca Soccer Player Kailley Jackson being interviewed by Vincent Martinez in front of the classes by the softball field on December 10, 2025 (Diego Aguilar).
Another player of the match winner and a goal scorer, Kailee Jackson, who wears No. 13.
As some players pick their numbers because they look good, she has a reason why she chose the number.
“My older sister wore 13. So did my dad as well, so i wanted to join them and show appreciation to them and that's why I chose 13,” Jackson said.
Jackson works hard every day, every practice, and every workout by putting all this effort into these practices it translates to her soccer matches.
Jackson is only a Junior, but she has high expectations for her Senior year as she wants to be an all-league team, possibly go to play-offs, and try to win the VOL.
The Varsity Girls' Soccer team has shown incredible grit and determination this season.
Each practice, every match, and all the effort they've put in has been with one goal in mind: making the playoffs.
With a deep commitment to teamwork, resilience in the face of challenges, and a fierce desire to succeed, the team has proven they have what it takes to compete at the highest level.
As they continue to push forward, their focus on improvement, unity, and the thrill of the game fuels their drive to secure a spot in the playoffs.
This is just the beginning for a group of athletes whose dedication and passion will undoubtedly take them far.