Manteca and Oakdale both needed a win, so it’s understandable why both were unsatisfied with Monday’s result.
Host Oakdale made Manteca pay for a lackluster first-half effort and led by two goals at the break, but the Buffaloes were able to come back and salvage a 3-3 tie.
That leaves Manteca (4-2-2, 11-3-2 overall) in fourth place with 14 points in the Valley Oak League, trailing Sierra (5-3-1, 16 points) for the third Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth. Oakdale (3-5-1, 4-8-3) has an even deeper hole climb out of with five matches remaining.
“It puts a little more pressure on us to win some more games in the second half (of the VOL schedule),” Manteca coach Justin Coenenberg said.
All things considered, he was relieved that Manteca came away with at least a point.
Danae Rose and Megan Burke scored Oakdale’s first-half goals.
“In the first 25 minutes they took it to us and we were flat,” Coenenberg said. “That led to us making uncharacteristic mistakes in the back. I’m proud of the way the girls battled back to tie it up twice, but those first 25 minutes really cost us.”
Manteca didn’t strike until the opening minutes of the second half when Natalia Duran scored on an assist from Fechi Nkowcha. Jasmine Basuil knotted the score shortly after, finishing off a corner kick crossed by Samantha Klump.
Oakdale went back ahead on Madison Feurstein’s goal, and Leah Manuleleua capped scoring with a blast from near the top of the 18-yard line.
The Buffaloes were outshot 20-10, but rookie goalie Alyssa Burch (15 saves) did well to keep her team in it.
“She came up with some big (saves), especially on 1v1 opportunities,” Coenenberg said. “She’s developing well and getting better every single game for us.”
Southern League
Ripon Christian 1, Delhi 0
The Knights (10-1, 14-2-1) were able to sneak away from Delhi (4-6-2, 4-8-2) with the victory thanks to sophomore Sam Carvalho’s late goal on a free kick and keeper Bryanna Heida’s shutout.
“Carvalho not only scored the go-ahead goal, but she also controlled the pace of play in the middle of the field,” RC coach Kevin Tameling said. “She was very active in her play and stepped up when it mattered.
The win keeps Ripon Christian in pace with SL-leading Mariposa, which is 12-0 with two league contests remaining.
