Oakdale girls soccer falls in section championship, awaits NorCal opportunity next week

Quinton Hamilton
·4 min read

Oakdale girls soccer coach Kico Monares had a message for his team after Thursday night’s section championship match: Take it all in.

No matter the final result, the team already had made program history. It won back-to-back Valley Oak League titles for the first time in school history, advanced to its first section title match since 2011 and qualified for the CIF Northern California Regional tournament for the first time in school history.

The second-seed Mustangs, however, were not able to cap this part of their dream season with a blue banner, falling to No. 4 Rio Americano 1-0 after a goal in the 74th minute.

“Don’t let the game define what we did as a team,” Monares said of his post-match message to the team. “Enjoy the moment, take pictures with your family, take pictures with your teammates. It’s OK to have fun even after a loss. This is that moment because what we did is phenomenal. It’s not the result we wanted, but we shouldn’t let this moment take away the enjoyment.”

Oakdale High’s Claire McGee Brown, 11, fights for control of the ball against Delilah Oaks, 21 of Rio Americano High during the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Section Championship match Thursday Feb. 22, 2024 at Cosumnes River College.
Oakdale High’s Claire McGee Brown, 11, fights for control of the ball against Delilah Oaks, 21 of Rio Americano High during the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Section Championship match Thursday Feb. 22, 2024 at Cosumnes River College.

The Mustangs’ defense didn’t get much rest Thursday as Rio Americano’s attack relentlessly put pressure on the back line. Avery Alves saved nearly every attempt the Raiders let off.

Similar to the semifinals against Manteca, the Mustangs kept their opponents off the board for nearly the whole contest.

Rio Americano broke the 0-0 tie as the match neared its end. The Raiders attacked down the left side of the field, sending a perfectly timed pass across the face of the goal to Miley McNamee, who found the back of the net.

“They’re solid. Their speed of play, their possession, they were slightly the better team today,” Monares said of Rio Americano. “We are very good defensively and our strength offensively is our tactics. … We were hoping for overtime, hoping for PK’s. I trust who we have on our PK’s, I trust our goalie.”

Two first-half corner kicks were the Mustangs’ best opportunities all match. Senior Mia Peterson took both, nearly curling the first try in for a goal. The second attempt was cleared by a Rio Americano defender.

The Mustangs will regroup over the weekend and get back to work Monday for the NorCal Regional playoffs. They likely will have to travel, but will not know for sure until the official brackets are released Sunday.

Oakdale has an example of how the rest of its season can play out. Two years ago, after falling in the Division II section playoffs, Kimball went on to win a NorCal title.

“The blue banner was the No. 1 thing on our bucket list, now it’s a matter of regrouping and making a run at regionals.”

Oakdale High’s Mia Peterson, 3, controls the ball during the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Section Championship match against Rio Americano Thursday Feb. 22, 2024 at Cosumnes River College.
Oakdale High’s Mia Peterson, 3, controls the ball during the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Section Championship match against Rio Americano Thursday Feb. 22, 2024 at Cosumnes River College.

Girls soccer championships

Division V

Hilmar 2, Argonaut 0

Sophomores stuffed the stat sheet for the Yellowjackets as they claimed their fourth section title and their first since 2008. Brisa Gonzales scored once in the match, bringing her season goals total up to an impressive 29. She also adds seven assists on the season. Gonzales is 10th in the section in goals and 11th in points (65). Alexis Aguiar scored her 13th goal of the season and Mikayla Arteaga recorded an assist. Junior Kayden Elston earned the shutout and finished with four saves.

Hilmar (22-5-2) has won 10 straight matches, including powering past Ben Holt College Prep Academy 6-0 in the first round and outlasting Sonora 5-2 in double overtime to get to the Feb. 17 championship match. The 22 wins are a program best since recording 20 wins in 2017-18.

The Yellowjackets return nearly all of their offensive production next season and will chase back-to-back section titles for the first time since 2007 and 2008.

Hilmar finds out its NorCal opponent when brackets are released Sunday.

Division VI

Ripon Christian 2, Stone Ridge Christian 0

Ripon Christian earned its first blue banner since going back-to-back in 2014 and 2015, claiming the Division VI crown Feb. 17. Freshman Brooke Barnes and sophomore Alanna Blanco each scored first-half goals. Senior goalie Tara Heida recorded five saves in the shutout win.

The Knights have won three section titles in four appearances. This year’s section title match was a rematch of the 2023 semifinals, which Stone Ridge Christian won 3-1 en route to a section championship.

The Knights got over the 20-win mark for the first time in 10 years. They won 19 games in each of the past two seasons.

Dayna Koolhaas is one of the best scorers in California. She ranks 19th with her 91 points and she is 14th in goals with 41. She is also tied for second on the team in assists with nine. Junior Addison Dejong has tallied a team-high 10 assists and Barnes adds nine.

The Knights find out their NorCal opponent when brackets are released Sunday.

Oakdale High’s Kyleigh Melconian, 21, heads the ball during the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Section Championship match against Rio Americano Thursday Feb. 22, 2024 at Cosumnes River College.
Oakdale High’s Kyleigh Melconian, 21, heads the ball during the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Section Championship match against Rio Americano Thursday Feb. 22, 2024 at Cosumnes River College.
Oakdale High’s Mia Peterson, 3, kicks the ball over her head during the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Section Championship match against Rio Americano Thursday Feb. 22, 2024 at Cosumnes River College.
Oakdale High’s Mia Peterson, 3, kicks the ball over her head during the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Section Championship match against Rio Americano Thursday Feb. 22, 2024 at Cosumnes River College.
Oakdale High’s Dakota Burford, 12, fights for control of the ball against Hannah Hopkins, 3, of Rio Americano High during the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Section Championship match Thursday Feb. 22, 2024 at Cosumnes River College.
Oakdale High’s Dakota Burford, 12, fights for control of the ball against Hannah Hopkins, 3, of Rio Americano High during the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Section Championship match Thursday Feb. 22, 2024 at Cosumnes River College.