Led by sister duo and freshman striker, VOL girls soccer champ Oakdale eyes more
The Oakdale High School girls soccer team is a budding dynasty.
The Mustangs are coming off three-straight deep Sac-Joaquin Section postseason runs, back-to-back section finals appearances and back-to-back CIF Northern California Regional playoff appearances.
But this season could be their best one yet.
With a 4-0 win over Mountain House Wednesday, the Mustangs clinched the Valley Oak League title outright and stayed undefeated against VOL opponents heading into the final two games of the regular season.
The Mustangs already have their fourth-straight 15-plus win season and at 16-2-2, are two wins shy of tying their record for most wins during that span.
It has been a record-breaking season that, according to head coach Kico Monares, has been spearheaded by the team’s willingness to play for each other.
“There’s no cliques, it’s refreshing to see them with each other because they truly love each other,” Monares said. “They don’t bicker with each other. When someone makes a mistake, they hold each other accountable.”
The Mustangs played for the 2024 and 2025 Division III section titles and were just minutes away from a blue banner each time. In both games, they lost 1-0 after playing shutout soccer in the first half, but allowing second-half scores that ended up being the difference.
This year, they’re hoping to get back to the SJS’s biggest stage and now, they’re hoping for a different result.
“When we set our goals back in September at 5:30 a.m. weight training, we’re talking about the blue banner,” Monares said.
Though they have a league title locked up, there are two regular season games next week, then they await the bracket announcement. In the most recent MaxPreps SJS D-IV standings, Oakdale is the No. 1 team. The Mustangs are the No. 8 team in the entire section, according to MaxPreps.
Sisters join forces for team success
Dakota and Skyler Burford didn’t think they could get any closer.
The sisters already spent every minute around each other at home, at out-of-season training, on their way to school and driving around the city whenever freshman Skyler joined junior Dakota. They even played on the same club team a few times with Skyler guest playing up two age groups when Dakota’s team needed an extra player.
“She’s that good,” Dakota said of her younger sister. “She’s genuinely so talented.”
When Skyler joined her older sister on the varsity soccer team they added an extra two or so hours together to their daily schedules. Weight room sessions, practices and games strengthen their bond as they take turns wreaking havoc on opposing defenses, combining for 18 goals and 15 assists.
“I’m extremely lucky to be able to look up to her,” Skyler said. “She inspires me all the time. I couldn’t have asked for a better sister.”
Dakota is second on the team in goals (11), assists (8) and points (30) after being one of the team’s leaders in goals as a freshman and sophomore. Skyler is third with seven assists and seven goals. The Burford sisters are two of three Mustangs with more than six goals and six assists on the season entering the final week of the regular season.
The Mustangs as a whole are a versatile outfit with seven players tallying more than 10 points so far and nine players with three or more goals.
As for the sisters, they’re enjoying seeing each other more. Skyler is enjoying her time as a freshman, sharing the campus with Dakota and older brother Wes, an Air Force football signee who holds the CIF-SJS all-time rushing record and is the No. 3 wrestler in his weight class in the nation. She is adjusting to the rigors of being a high school student while producing for the top team in one of the top girls soccer leagues in the section.
“I didn’t know what to expect coming into high school, but it’s way better than what I could have expected. I couldn’t ask for a better team,” Skyler said.
Dakota has stepped into a leadership role as one of the team’s most experienced returners. She has 47 total goals, 33 assists and 127 points.
“In the past two years coming in as a freshman and sophomore and getting the chance to play with some great players and role models for me,” Dakota said. “So seeing them be captains, lead the team and be as motivating as they were led me to want to build that dynamic with the team this year. I was blessed enough for my coach to give me the opportunity to be a captain, but these girls have made it so easy.”
A young crop of talent
Her name is Layla Garcia-Gonzalez, but her teammates call her Labubu.
Partially because she stands at just 4-foot-11, partially because there is already another Layla on the team.
“I don’t mind it,” she said with a smile.
Though her nickname comes from the small plush toys that have become popular in recent months, her game is anything but miniature.
The speedy freshman has exploded on the scene for Oakdale, leading the team with 19 goals, 11 assists and 49 points. Her points total is second in of all Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV girls soccer players, according to MaxPreps.
“I’ve been training hard,” she said. “It doesn’t just come to me, I’ve had to work hard for it and it feels great.”
She wasn’t nervous coming into a new team with expectations of making a third-straight deep playoff run. Her reasoning is two-fold. On one hand, coming from a high level competitive soccer team, she has seen her share of big soccer games. She has also felt welcomed by the older players and has a sense of comfort, coming into a team with a lot of young players.
“We’ve bonded together and we work together really well as a team to be able to be here,” Garcia-Gonzalez said.
The Mustangs lost five seniors to graduation that had a major impact for the team. All five went on to play college soccer. It forced new players to step into new roles, most of which were filled by a new, young crop of players.
Seven players with at least three goals and four players with at least five assists are freshman and sophomores. A promising young team that not only gives Monares encouragement in the present, but also hope for the future.
“From the naked eye, this is a rebuild year,” Monares said. “But we have these incoming freshmen and our experience from last year.”
A pair of home games remain on the regular season schedule for the Mustangs against East Union and Manteca as they search for a perfect league record. Then in the postseason, the bigger challenge begins.
