Sierra was about five minutes away from having a chance to host a playoff game.
Then Oakdale nearly eliminated the Timberwolves from the postseason picture altogether.
The Mustangs, who needed to win Thursday’s Valley Oak League finale at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium to qualify for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs, scored the tying goal in the 75th minute.
They nearly struck again just two minutes later, and Sierra held for a hard-earned 1-1 result.
“Hey, at least we’re in the playoffs,” said Sierra coach Manuel Pires.
A win for his Timberwolves (8-3-3, 12-5-5) would have forced a two-way tie for second place with rival Manteca High. A coin flip would then decide which club gets to host a first-round contest as the VOL’s No. 2 team, while the third-place team gets a tough opening draw against Vista del Lago in Folsom.
Oakdale (8-4-2, 14-7-5) needed to win outright to secure the final playoff berth.
It was a rough-and-tumble affair in which more fouls were called (18, including three yellow cards) than shots attempted (14).
The Mustangs had taken just one shot in the second half before they were given a shot of momentum by defender Kate Odom. Gaby Acosta delivered a perfect corner-kick cross from the right side, and Odom blasted in the equalizer with a header.
“We just fell asleep in the box,” Pires said. “They had two or three players who were wide open to head that ball and no one picked that up. I just had a feeling that they were going to find a way to score.”
Oakdale threatened to take the lead after that. Acosta targeted the left post with her bomb from about 30 yards out, and with Sierra goalkeeper Lia Unterholzner out of position defender Patricia Angel was there to clear the ball away from danger.
“I only had three defenders in the last 15 minutes,” Oakdale coach Alfredo Quiroga said. “It was a risk, but a tie would have done us no good — a loss would have been just the same for us.
“I’m not disappointed at all (about the outcome). I have eight freshmen and four sophomores, and they played well against a good team. Sierra is always very strong.”
Freshman Alexis Young recorded Sierra’s lone goal. Working off a nice combination play with sophomore Jessica Cuenca, a fortunate deflection off an Oakdale defender led to a one-on-one breakaway against goalie Jordin Altman.
Sierra had several chances to have the lead much earlier.
In the opening minute, Asia Cortez had a point-blank try slapped away by Altman, and the follow-up from Naomi Nunis was blocked by a defender near the right post.
And with about two minutes left in the half, Nunis sent a well-placed ball to Cortez from the left side, but Cortez, who was wide open in front of the goal box, couldn’t get the finishing touch on it.
Nunis almost converted with a beautiful head shot four minutes into the second half. Sydnee Canales found her opposite with a free kick from the right corner, and Nunis connected with a hard header that settled into the side netting.
“We had so many opportunities,” Pires said. “We played a little bit better in the second half but we knew it was going to be a fight until the end. It’s frustrating we couldn’t get a win, but a tie is good enough.”
The first round of the playoffs is set for May 15.
