The Oakdale High School varsity girls soccer team welcomed Hilmar into town on Tuesday night, Nov. 28. It was the season opener for the Lady Mustang soccer team. The opener was a successful one for the home team as Oakdale blanked Hilmar 6-0.

Freshman Dakota Burford scored four goals for Oakdale and added an assist. The other two goals were scored by Mckinlee Marler and Claire McGee Brown, each notching a goal. Brown also had an assist, while Kyleigh Melconian also had an assist.

Sophomore Keira McCulley suited up as goalkeeper and had a pair of saves.

“I am proud of the way these girls stepped up tonight. These are girls who have not played at this level before,” said head coach Kiko Monares.

Monares said that the team’s goals for the year are to repeat as Valley Oak League champions and have a repeat league Most Valuable Player.

“We have goals in place and honestly our ultimate goal is to win a blue banner. But to get to that point we want to win the Valley Oak League and I think it would be great to have a league MVP. Last year we had the VOL MVP and I think it would be a huge accomplishment to produce two MVPs in back-to-back years,” the coach said.

Last year’s MVP was Kyndra Obermeyer. She is a senior this year and is a team captain as well.

Friday action saw the squad take third place at a tournament hosted in Manteca.

Oakdale returns to the field on Dec. 6 when they host Sonora at 5 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER

Oakdale’s varsity boys hosted Gregori on Wednesday, Nov. 29 but it was the visiting Jaguars who walked off the field victorious. The Mustangs fell to Gregori 6-1. Oakdale’s lone goal came in the first half on a shot by Jason Martinho off an assist by Dylan Krause. Oakdale travels to Sonora on Wednesday, Dec. 6 for a 6:30 p.m. contest against the Wildcats. Following that game, Oakdale will be off until Dec. 19 when they host Hughson at 5:15 p.m.