The Oakdale High Water Polo program opened the Valley Oak League season with a varsity sweep of Kimball on Sept. 19. Following is a summary of that action and other results for boys soccer, girls tennis and girls golf.
Water Polo
Hayley Benson’s arms waved to-and-fro like a wacky inflatable waving tube man as attempted equalizing scores from Kimball’s varsity girls water polo team deflected off her forearms — left and right.
The second half shot attempts would represent a serious threat to even the score, but Oakdale capitalized with a quick counterattack score in the opening moments of the fourth period to escape the Aquatic Center with a narrow 4-2 win over the Jaguars.
Kimball handily won the shot margin 15-11, but found trouble slipping anything past Benson’s outstretched arms. Oakdale often dumped away possessions to try and best utilize the shot clock, and struggled to deliver quality attempts on goal.
“We had trouble with finishing touches,” Oakdale coach Diane Kline said. “Kimball is motived to win a playoff spot this year and they have really improved.”
Katie Vanderburg scored a first period goal to give Oakdale the lead and watched two goals from Cassie Lee give Oakdale the edge at the half, 3-1. Kimball scored in a one-sided third period, but couldn’t muster the tying shot despite an advantage in quality possessions.
“Hayley never panicked and was consistently good,” Kline said. “She showed a lot of poise.”
The Oakdale varsity boys were a constant harassment to the Kimball goal and rallied to a 16-9 win to open VOL play. The team went on to slip to a 1-3 record in action at the Woodcreek Invitational on Saturday.
“We lost three games by four goals,” Oakdale coach Brian Kline said. “Overall it was a fantastic experience where everybody played at least a quarter.
“We found out the combinations that work and don’t work.”
Kline said it was exciting to win his first league game as a head water polo coach at OHS. He points to some serious competition left on the league docket from Ripon (today, Sept. 26) and Sonora (Oct. 3).
Boys Soccer
The Mustangs are 2-2 in conference play after a 2-1 win over upstart Lathrop on Sept. 18 and a 5-1 loss to East Union two days later. Davis Harper scored and assisted Oskar Nilsson on a goal during the Lathrop win. Jake Hicks and Zeke Spani combined for 10 saves in the victory.
Mike Adian scored the lone goal on East Union on an assist from Harper. Hicks and Spani combined for seven saves but couldn’t stop enough to keep Oakdale in the game.
The Mustangs were at Weston Ranch on Tuesday, though results were not available at press time. The team takes on host Manteca on Thursday.
Girls Tennis
Oakdale slipped to their first defeat of the season in 6-3 fashion to Sierra on Sept. 18, bouncing back two days later with a 7-2 win over Sonora.
Taylor Davis defeated Rosie Reynolds 7-6, 6-3 for the lone singles win over Sierra. Melissa VanDyke and Alyssa Flores bested Kelsey Wells and Barbara Baxter 7-6, 6-4 while Oakdale landed another doubles win when Madison Lane and Amanda Monschein outlasted Liana Bassett and Simran Thind 0-6, 7-6 (10-8).
Katie Odom opened up the Sonora win with a 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 comeback to best Nataska Estes. Francesca Orvis defeated Taylor Howell 6-2, 6-4 while Christine Winders (6-2, 6-0 over Alania Brosnan) and Davis (7-5, 6-0 over Victoria Green) also pulled off singles wins.
In doubles, Taylor Kelley and Rachelle Pabalan defeated Holly Haughy and Hannah Smith 6-0, 7-6. Van Dyke and Flores beat Makera Forester and Kennedi Ashton 6-2, 6-0 while Lane and Monschein defeated Marcie Lanson and Sabrina Skiloa in a pair of 6-0 scores.
Oakdale hosted unbeaten Manteca for a key conference contest on Tuesday, though results were not available at press time. The Lady Mustangs are at Weston Ranch on Thursday.
Girls Golf
Oakdale was at Weston Ranch on Tuesday, though results were not available at press time. The team looks to bounce back from a 225-314 forfeit loss to host Kimball on Sept. 20. It was the second match in three meetings where Oakdale was unable to field a full team and forfeited the decision.
Dylanie Donahue shot a 47 to land the only league point from the event. She has a team-high 25-league points with medalist honors from Oakdale’s first three contests. Jenna Heaton (51), Jazmine Velazquez (53) and Bonnie Findlay (63) carded scores for Oakdale against Kimball, but two missing positions were filled by automatic 100-scores across just nine holes.
The Mustangs host Manteca at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club on Thursday.
