Oakdale shooting star Ashley Arnett tied for state lead in scoring

The newest star in the Stanislaus District’s solar system won’t be here long.

Ashley Arnett has burst onto the high school scene, appearing it would seem out of nowhere, delivered to Oakdale by the soccer gods.

The first-year striker tops the state in scoring (41) and points (104), and has guided Oakdale into Wednesday’s semifinal round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III tournament.

The third-seeded Mustangs travel to No. 1 East Union, rekindling a fierce Valley Oak League rivalry. The Lancers haven’t lost a game in two years, crushing almost everyone in their path … except Oakdale.

The Lancers swept both meetings this season, but needed a penalty kick and a goal in the final minutes to escape Oakdale unscathed on April 1.

“I feel like third time is going to be the charm,” Arnett said.

It’s now or never for Arnett, because, while her star burns hot and bright, she won’t be here long.

Arnett is a senior who will play the next four years at the University of the Pacific on scholarship. She hopes to maximize the time they have together.

She sat out the first three years honoring a commitment to her club team, the Danville Mustangs. It was a difficult decision, but she said the argument of “club versus high school” wasn’t even close. Nearly every member of the Danville Mustangs has committed to a college.

“I wanted the high school experience,” Arnett said, “but at the same time I didn’t think high school would give me that way to college.”

The proof arrived last spring in the form of a Division I offer to a university in her backyard. With her future set, Arnett set out to check another item off her wish list – make the high school team.

Uh, check.

“I’ve loved every minute of it,” she said, “and I’ve enjoyed making so many new friends. I’m beyond happy that I made the decision to play high school soccer for my senior year.”

Arnett speaks with the confidence of a player raised in the program and unravels defenses with the slick skill set of a well-traveled club player. Yet it’s her selfless demeanor – a remarkable lack of ego – that has helped her acclimate to a new team and coach.

“She’s a player’s player. That means she’s the type of player you want to have on your team,” head coach Alfredo Quiroga said. “She’s very coachable. She doesn’t have an attitude. Her work ethic is second to none. She works for the team, both in practice and in the games.”

Arnett shattered the school’s single-season scoring mark of 26 set by Jill Kahler in 2012-13. She is tied with Ripon Christian sophomore Abby Buitrago for the state lead in goals with 41, including back-to-back hat tricks to open the postseason. Arnett also has 22 assists, proving she can do more than finish in front of the net.

“She’s never had a bad game,” Quiroga said. “I can tell you that what she’s done in the last two games is what she did in the very first game. Her work ethic and play has been at a consistent level all season.”

Quiroga can only imagine what the narrative surrounding Wednesday’s semifinal would be if Arnett had played four full seasons. The roles might be reversed, he said.

Oakdale has never won a section title in girls’ soccer. The Mustangs came close in 2011, losing to VOL foe Sierra in the Division 3 finale. Oakdale reached the semifinal in 2013, giving eventual champion Rio Americano its stiffest test in a 1-0 loss.

“There wasn’t much I could do about it. You just work with the players you have available to you. She’s not the only player to skip high school, here or at other schools,” Quiroga said. “But if I would have had her a couple of years ago when we got to the semifinal and lost to the section champion (Rio Americano), it might have been a different story. She would have made a huge difference.”

On Wednesday, she’ll get her first and only chance.

East Union is ranked No. 2 in the state. An electric offense led by the Rivera sisters, Isabella and Ilena (33 goals, 11 assists), is balanced by a defense that has 16 shutouts. The Lancers cruised past Central Valley in their opener, 2-0, and then dismantled Benicia, 4-0.

Arnett isn’t fazed.

“I have whole-heartedly put my best effort into this high school season,” Arnett said. “It would be great to have all that hard work pay off with a section title.”

This story was originally published May 12, 2015 at 3:04 PM with the headline "Oakdale shooting star Ashley Arnett tied for state lead in scoring."