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OHS Soccer Players Gear Up For Winter Campaign
soccer
The rain put a damper on Thursdays practice for the boys and girls soccer teams at OHS. On Friday the boys took the field in a scrimmage between the varsity and junior varsity. DENNIS D. CRUZ/THE LEADER

For the second season, both boys and girls soccer will be played during the winter months.

For the boys, Valley Oak League play is set to begin on Monday, Dec.18 on the road against Manteca. Last year Oakdale finished with a 9-3-2 league record and placed second in the Valley Oak League. The boys lost in the second round of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs to Lincoln of Lincoln, 2-1. Head Coach Alfredo Quiroga has been at the helm for the Mustangs for over a decade. Assisting Quiroga will be Jaime Martinez; Martinez returns as junior varsity head coach and Randy Pierson will assist.

This past Monday, Nov. 20, the boys were scheduled to play against Patterson in a non-league game, following The Leader’s press time. On Friday, Nov. 24 the boys will take on Franklin in a non-league contest that will feature the junior varsity starting at 3:30 p.m. and varsity at 5:15 p.m.

Key returners for the team will be Alexander Gonzalez, Westen Wright, Izzy Valero, Dayne Sturtevant, and goalkeepers Daniel Dubiel and Nathan Richardson.

For the Lady Mustangs, Grace Fernandez returns for her second season as head coach of the varsity team. Last year the girls went 2-12 under Fernandez but look to turn things around in 2017-2018. The girls open their season at home for a pair of league games beginning with Manteca on Thursday, Dec. 21. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. for the junior varsity and 5:45 p.m. for the varsity. Coaching the junior varsity will be Nicholas Bauman.

Oakdale’s first non-league game will be on Thursday, Nov. 30 with the junior varsity taking the field at 4 p.m. and varsity at 6 p.m. at Franklin. The team’s preseason schedule sees them on the road for a six pack of non-league contests.

Oakdale will be led by their seniors: Madeline Freitas, Viviana Albor, Kylee Black, Jenna London, Brooke Basore, Franchesca Ryan, Macy Robinson, Aleesha Harden, and Emily Siva-Rodriguez.

Next week The Leader breaks down the indoor winter sports. Oakdale’s dominant wrestling program and both boys and girls basketball programs will be previewed in the Nov. 29 edition.