Oakdale handed Sierra an own goal in the game’s first minute Monday and battled back from a three-goal deficit to knock the Timberwolves out of the top spot in the Valley Oak League with a 3-3 tie at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.
Seconds after the opening whistle, Jordyn Costa passed the ball to Timberwolves teammate Briana Oseguera, who got a shot off. Oseguera’s shot was off the mark, but while trying to clear the ball the Mustangs (5-4-2 VOL, 12-6-5 overall) kicked the ball into their own net to spot Sierra (8-0-3, 19-0-5) to a 1-0 lead.
Midway through the first half, Jadyn Shinn lofted a shot over a trio of Oakdale defenders into an empty net to make the score 2-0. In the 24th minute Timberwolves freshman Yasmin Ballew jostled her way through Oakdale’s rear line and got the ball past the charging Mustangs goalie to put Sierra ahead 3-0
“I saw the opportunity,” Ballew said. “And I took it.
“There were two or three players and I dribbled through them and put it straight in the back of the net.”
Madison Feuerstein and Megan Burks got goals for Oakdale before halftime to make the score 3-2. Both teams battled through the second half and the Mustangs broke through in the 74th minute when Talia Millard tied the game with the contest’s final goal.
“We played a little more defensively in the second half,” coach Manuel Pires said. “I knew this was going to be a battle.
“That team is fighting to get points and get back into the playoffs. We almost had it done but we didn’t finish.”
The Timberwolves had 13 shots on goal and Oakdale 11. Sierra goalie Emma Broderick had eight saves. 
Mustangs coach Alfredo Quiroga was pleased with the way his team battled back from the three-goal deficit.
“We were losing 3-0,” Quiroga said. “And then to almost come back and win was pretty significant to us. They are undefeated and in first place — it means an awful lot to the girls. Giving them an own goal barely a minute into the game could take the wind out of anybody’s sails. We reset and did what we needed to do. 
“We had a good game against them in Oakdale too. We know we can play against them. They are good but so are we.”
Sierra won the frosh-soph game 4-1.

Manteca 12, Lathrop 0
The Buffaloes (9-1-1, 18-2-1) weren’t in second place for long.
They rebounded from last Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to Sierra with a landslide victory over Lathrop (0-11, 1-15-1) in their 6th annual Kicking for a Cure contest.  Manteca led 8-0 at halftime, getting four goals and an assist from Leah Manuleleua before the break. Madison Burch and Ivy Benson added two goals each in the first half, while Lejpa Pepic and Alexa Mayen chipped in two assists apiece.
In the second half, Sarah Vegas scored twice, Natalia Duran contributed a goal and an assist and Jocelyn Reyes netted a goal.

East Union 0, Kimball 0
East Union (5-5-1, 11-6-1) remains in fifth place and trails Oakdale by a point in the race for the final Sac-Joaquin Section postseason berth in the VOL. Manteca and Sierra have already clinched spots, and Central Catholic is solidly in third place.
“We had lots of good opportunities — 10 shots on goal — just couldn’t score,” East Union coach Victor Polanco said. “We pretty much dominated the game.” 
East Union won the frosh-soph game, 6-1.

Frosh-soph
Manteca 4, Lathrop 0
Alma Gonzales scored twice, while Alexandria Delgadillo and Hazel Vera had one goal each for the Buffaloes.