Oakdale High School girls’ soccer team was sidelined earlier this season due to bad air quality and wet weather. However, the team is back in action and had a busy week to close out their preseason.

On Tuesday, Dec. 4 the team hosted Downey but came up short 4-2. In the contest Oakdale trailed 1-0 but tied the game on a first half goal by Jade Manriquez assisted by Maquel Besson. The Downey Knights answered with three goals before halftime to go up 4-1. The Lady Mustangs scored on a Kassandra Rodriguez goal on an assist from Manriquez in the second half.

This past weekend Oakdale went to Turlock for the Pitman Tournament where Oakdale played in four games going 1-2-1. On Friday, Dec. 7 Oakdale tied 0-0 with Hilmar and were shutout by host Pitman in their second game of the day 4-0. On Saturday the girls fell to Sonora 2-1. The Lady Mustangs led 1-0 on a Makena Winton goal from an assist from Payton Bohannon. Sonora scored two unanswered goals in the second half to escape with the win. In their final game of the weekend, Oakdale took on Patterson and picked up their lone win of the tournament. The Lady Mustangs defeated the Tigers, 2-0. Two juniors found the net on the afternoon when Emily Takaki and Kendra Branch each scored goals for Oakdale. Freshmen Besson and Chloe Chase each had an assist.

Oakdale opens up Valley Oak League play on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at Manteca. The Lady Mustangs travel to East Union to take on the Lancers on Monday, Dec. 17. The team will host Sierra in their league home opener on Wednesday, Dec. 19. All games are scheduled for 5:45 p.m.

It was a difficult two games for the junior varsity girls as they were blanked by Rodriguez 7-0 on Friday evening and fell to Downey 4-0. Oakdale’s next game will be on Wednesday, Dec. 12 when the team takes on Manteca in their league opener, scheduled for 4 p.m.