Getting on the field for their first games of the season, the Oakdale United Insanity Under 19 girls competitive team played solid soccer all weekend, nailing down second place honors in the Solano Summer Blast Tournament.
The team features a mix of returning veterans from last year, some newcomers to the squad and some players coming back after an absence of a couple of years. Coaches Brian Orr and Sebastian Desales were pleased with the effort, the new players and returners combining to play their way to a pair of wins, one tie and a loss in the championship contest, which went to double overtime.
The girls opened up the weekend with a Saturday morning game against the host Solano Extreme and rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to take a 4-3 win. Scoring were newcomers Jaylyne Serpa, Patty Jacobo and Jessica Fenech, with Jordyn Cooley – back with the team after a couple of seasons – also finding the net. Assists were by Danae Rose (4), Allyson Neves, Christina Bradshaw and Katelyn Jackson.
In the Saturday afternoon game, the girls battled to a 1-1 tie with Paradise Ridge, the goal coming from Rose with the assist by Fenech. The 13 points earned by the team on Saturday put them in first place in their bracket going into Sunday morning’s game, but the Insanity needed a victory to assure themselves a spot in the title game.
Facing off with a very physical Rocklin team, the Insanity held their own and finally broke through with a goal with about three minutes left in the contest, with Rose taking a throw in from Allison Jackson down the line and curving it just inside the goal post for the winning score.
Coming out of bracket play with a total of 21 points from the first three games, the Insanity was tied in points with Solano Extreme but advanced over them due to the head to head victory in the opener.
Sunday afternoon saw Sacramento Soccer Alliance and the Insanity square off for the Blast title, this time the Insanity taking a 1-0 lead late in the first half on a goal by Rose, off assists from Bradshaw and Taylor Thatcher. Second half scoring saw Jordyn Cooley put the Insanity up 2-0 with assists from Serpa and Jassmine Vigil, but Sacramento stormed back with three unanswered goals to take a 3-2 lead.
With time winding down, Serpa chipped a pass to Rose and the forward drilled it home, tying the score at 3-3.
The teams went into the two five-minute overtime periods and neither team scored in the first OT. A late handball call against Oakdale in the second OT awarded Sacramento a penalty kick and they converted, holding off a late charge by the Insanity to take the 4-3 win.
Coaches said they were extremely pleased with the work ethic of the players and were happy to bring home the second place trophy from their first competition. Suiting up for the weekend were Allyson Neves, Anna Ogden, Helena Hoover, Hannah Hanko, Jordyn Cooley, Jessica Fenech, Christina Bradshaw, Katelyn Jackson, Allison Jackson, Danae Rose, Jaylyne Serpa, Taylor Thatcher, Katie Homer, Mely Ibarra, Jassmine Vigil and Patty Jacobo.
The girls next play at the Dublin Shamrock Classic on Aug. 10 and 11.
