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Inferno Off To Blazing Start For Soccer Season
Oak-Inferno
The Oakdale Inferno 17-U soccer team got its season off to a solid start with a third place finish in the Soccer By the Bay Tournament recently. - photo by Photo Contributed

The Oakdale Inferno put together a nice debut for their competitive season, bringing a third place finish back to Oakdale after participating in the recent Soccer By The Bay Tournament.

The Inferno put together an impressive 3-1 record in the tournament, dropping their only contest to Diablo 92G Blue in a 1-0 contest.

“We were in the upper division,” coach Rob Micheletti said. “So we got things going in the first weekend (of two). The team that we lost to is ranked in the top-20 in Northern California for our age group.

“So we put together a pretty good showing.”

The Inferno will be competing in CYSA action as well as on the tournament scene. The 17-under squad is comprised of mostly standouts from the Oakdale High program, falling in the 15- to 16-year-old age bracket.

Oakdale got tournament play under way with a 1-0 win over the SACYSL Northstars. Bryanna Welch made good on the shot assisted by Jenna Micheletti.

The Inferno followed the win up with another victory, blasting the Hayward Chaos 2-0 in one of the tournament’s more physical matches. Welch and Micheletti paired up for another goal, while Mariah King kicked in the other score.

Oakdale was one of several teams vying for a spot on the Sunday playing card and solid play to open the tournament assured the squad of a spot in a place game.

“The key focus for us going in,” Micheletti said, “is to earn a fourth game in whatever tournament we enter in. So basically you have to advance and get out of your group to get into a fourth game.

“Whether you’re playing for third place or first place doesn’t matter just as long as you’re in a fourth game.”

Oakdale made good on their consolation game action, outlasting a determined San Bruno Lowen Galaxy team in a penalty kick shootout final 4-1. Jessica Gomez, Taylor Morrow, Hailey Turney and King all nailed their PK’s giving the Inferno the advantage.

Morgan Kinyon put together a tremendous effort in the net, turning away all but one shot over the tournament weekend.

The Inferno will look to continue to get better, opening with league play before getting back into later tournament dates.

“We’ll probably compete in about five tournaments all together,” Micheletti said. “But we won’t be in another tournament until late September. Our league play will commence on Sept. 12, so we need to be getting better for that.”