Confidence continues to grow as Mustangs soccer team maintains perfect regular season
When the whistle blew signaling the end of Oakdale’s Valley Oak League home game Friday, the crowd let out a loud cheer.
After falling to Kimball High School twice last season, the Mustangs beat the Jaguars 2-1, keeping their undefeated record intact.
Senior Trista French put Oakdale on the board in the first half, scoring off a corner kick with 10:53 remaining in the frame. Junior Kyndra Obermeyer scored what ended up being the deciding goal, a left-footed strike with 34:15 remaining in the second half. Kimball tried to mount a comeback, scoring with 18:55 left, but Oakdale’s strong defense kept the Jaguars off the board for the rest of the game.
“It was a very intense game both ways,” Mustangs coach Kico Monares said. “With two very good teams, it came down to tactics. Both of our goals came off our set plays, which is something we’ve been grinding throughout the course of the season and it finally paid off today.”
Oakdale girls soccer fans have had a lot to cheer about.
The Mustangs are 11-0-2 overall and sit atop the VOL standings with a 3-0-2 record midway through league play.
So far this season, they have tied with last year’s league champion Manteca, beat Sierra for the first time since 2015, tied with East Union after losing last season and, with Friday’s win over Kimball, beaten last season’s CIF Northern California Division V Regional Champion.
They started 9-0 before their first hiccup against the Lancers on Jan. 9. They have responded by going 2-0-1 since.
“It’s pretty cool,” Obermeyer said. “Being able to know these are the top teams that we’ve never beaten before and then now you’re starting to beat them. It’s pretty cool to think that you’re at the top now.”
Everyone bought in
Monares came to Oakdale from Central Catholic and when he first took over the program, he saw promise.
“The talent was there,” the first-year Mustangs coach said. “The work ethic was there but the culture needed to be changed. Huge shout out to the Oakdale boosters. They got us new kits and changed our brand. The support from the staff, the principal, the AD … trickles down to the field. The girls have confidence, they have fresh gear, they have professional stuff and … one win after another, it’s just like, oh, wow, we’re pretty good.”
Though the Mustangs had not finished a full season with a winning record since 2018, the players also thought this year could be special.
Obermeyer played just a few games at the end of her sophomore year after returning from an ankle injury and was eager to play a full season. French, the team’s second-leading goal scorer this year, entered her final season hoping to turn things around. Last season’s leading scorer, Claire McGee Brown, is also back this season and has a team-high seven assists.
The 11 wins this year has tied the win total from the 2017-18 season. There are still five league games left to play.
“He told us in the beginning of the year, ‘Trust my tactics,’” said Obermeyer, who leads the team with 20 goals and adds six assists. “He just told us he’s going to test us mentally, physically and tactically and that’s what he’s done and it’s helped immensely.”
The players work hard and have embraced their new coaches.
“Kico and Tiffanie (LaVelle) have definitely put in a lot of time and effort into our program, getting us new gear and showing up on weekends,” Obermeyer said. “I know Kico doesn’t live that close to Oakdale so him coming here and putting in the work and dedication for all of us so that we can become the team that we are is just really, really great.”
Results have come
The team is versatile.
Speedy players on the outside give the Mustangs the opportunity to strike quickly but they also can slow the game down with crisp passing.
“It’s a game changer and that’s why I believe we’re undefeated,” Monares said. “We’re able to work both sides. Fitness is huge. You see the girls working nonstop, nobody sees what they do behind closed doors … we’re able to grind for 80 minutes and be fit.”
French is a four-year varsity player and has seen the program grow. The VOL sent four teams to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs last season. They have gone from questioning if they would score against the league’s top teams to playing competitive matches game after game.
“It’s a thrill,” French said. “There’s nerves that come with it, but coming in and beating these teams, scoring first, getting the first goals of the game, it definitely excites us and excites our bench and our fans. Just going against (other teams) it’s honestly a pleasure … and I wouldn’t want to be on any other team at any other school.”
Sitting first in the VOL heading into the second half of league play, the Mustangs know their work is not done, but they are encouraged by the way they have played thus far. They are in prime position to make the playoffs for the first time in five years.
“Coaches have said in the past our goal is playoffs and you don’t really believe it, you’re like, ‘OK,’” French said. “This year, that’s our goal. That’s what we want to do. We want to try to go as far as we can in the playoffs and I think we have the coaching staff and the amazing girls on our team to do so.”
