Three games into the Gregori Tournament, Oakdale High’s Division IV varsity soccer team has played five consecutive games against Division I opponents, going 3-1-1 across that span.
The team toppled visiting Enochs in 4-0 fashion to start the season, and added a 4-2 win over Pitman on Sept. 2. Oakdale tied Buhach Colony 1-1 to open tourney play on Friday and suffered a 2-1 loss to Beyer the same day before a 4-1 throttling of Johansen on Saturday.
“We are working real hard this year to take a collection of individuals and bring them together as a team,” Oakdale coach Alfredo Quiroga said. “Little by little I am seeing the improvements in that direction.”
Robert Gilbert, who scored three goals against Johansen, leads the team with six goals (one assist) on the young season. Antonio Munoz scored twice against both Enochs and Pitman, and has five goals as well. Mark Ortiz assisted the lone Buhach goal and scored all four tallies against Johansen.
Talented travel soccer goalkeeper Scott McNeill has one shut out and three saves from the net while Sam Paboojian has stopped 23 shots on goal with a shut out of his own.
McNeill and Ignacio Lopez each has a lone score on the season while Davies Harper (three assists), Jose Paredes (two assists), Oskar Nilsson, Gustavo Ruiz and Brent Leverett have each made passes resulting in a score.
It’s been the kind of cooperation that coach Quiroga is looking for.
“We have got to compete as a team and dictate the pace of the game,” Quiroga said. “If we do that we will be tough to beat.”
Oakdale is preparing for its first ever home game under the lights on Sept. 15 against Kimball of Tracy. The unveiling of Oakdale’s lit soccer fields will see free admittance to any youth wearing a soccer jersey.
