Hello and welcome to the blog’s live coverage of Oakland Soul hosting Marin Siren FC at Merritt College in the Oakland Hills. It marks Soul’s third match of the season, currently at 1-1-0 and requires a win and three goals to remain level for first-place in the USL W League NorCal Division with Stockton Cargo.
Marin are 0-0-2 with a 4-nil loss to Cargo and fell 3-2 to Olympic Club. Tonight marks Oakland’s first game since trouncing OC 7-0 on May 12, but they’ll have just one day of rest before traveling to Cal Storm in Davis on Saturday. With that, a great deal of rotation should be expected.
RootsBlog Player of the Match – Henar Urteaga
We name Henar Urteaga our RootsBlog Player of the Match for her instant impact against Marin Siren FC. She entered at halftime and slammed home a header goal just four minutes later, which is as close to an assist coach Jessica Clinton can get. She helped Soul dominate the second half, only allowing one shot by Marin.
Initial Takeaways
- The winning-mentality
Soul is building the winning-mentality necessary for a national championship. Despite winning 3-1 with an ultra-dominant second half, coach Jessica Clinton gave the team a stern talking when everyone huddled together following the final whistle. Her message was clear, the effort in the first-half needed to change.
It was a reminder of what’s required to finish at the top of the USL W League when it pits together its best teams in the entire country.
Soul should be the favorites to capture the NorCal Division, but the club’s goals are much higher than that, and achieving the highest honors in whatever league they are playing will require much more against the best teams. Instilling the winning-culture now is vital towards the growth of the club as it inches towards the Super League.
When it comes to lifting silverware, every minute matter.
- Offensive firepower
Despite allowing Marin to take the lead in the first half, Oakland still finished with eight shot attempts while doubling that tally in the second half with 16 attempts. It marks the second straight game for Soul to record at least 20 shot attempts.
Oakland was relentless in the second half with Sam Tran, Henar, Vickie Jones, and Kennedy Schoennauer entering.
Kaytlin Brinkman scored twice and could’ve bagged a hat trick after a shot from distance clanged off of the crossbar in the 70th. She was confused whether to celebrate on her first goal in the 63rd when she redirected a shot from Sam Tran into net, but it may have been saved otherwise. Her goal in the 81st was less subdued, rocketing in a shot from the right side of the penalty area.
Schoennauer also showed a lot of promise. Clinton suited her up in the CAM role, although she played striker last year at Utah and was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. She showed a clear eagerness to score, recording five shot attempts in her 45 minutes of work.
- Tough match at Cal Storm next
Soul plays a much more pivotal matchup in just two days on the road at Cal Storm in Davis. Storm has played just one match, a 5-nil win over Academica on Wednesday. Tonight’s lineup was a reflection of the congested schedule with some big changes all over the field. It will be interesting to see who will be available in Davis; Tran and Miranda Nild appeared in the second half tonight, while Brinkman played a full game.
Starting Lineup
- Oakland Soul Starting 11
Carpio gets her first start in the striker role with Brinkman on the right and Samillo gets her first start on the left. Lizzie Vranesh appears again in the CAM spot with Veland backing her up for her third straight start. Tatiana Cunningham was a starter from last year and is back. A good back line of Shepherd and Garcia at CB, while Robke at RB and Diaz at LB.
Timeline
GAME TIME!!! Oakland Soul is back at it with a Thursday match at Merritt College. We’ll see how quickly the scoring updates come, I’m expecting a busy night.
Marin shot wide – 6′
Marin corner – 8′
Marin corner- 9′
claimed
Soul free kick good area – 11′
Brinkman drew it about 11 yards above area.
Play on ground into Veland, shot on target goes straight at GK
Carpio slow shot – 13′
Marin slow shot – 14′
Brinkman shot high – 15′
Vranesh shot on target – 17′
from atop area.
Samillo sends ball through area, not sure if it was a shot – 20′
Vranesh shot wide – 21′
From left side near top elbow area.
Cunningham shot on target – 23′
Great individual work from her to dribble into area before taking a shot.
Brinkman shot trails high – 27′
Good work in transition. Carpio to win it against a defender while isolated and fed out wide to Brink.
Brinkman whiffs on an open header – 31′
Marin slow shot – 35′
Bad pass leads to nears giveaway, bad contact on shot.
Marin pulls ahead – 40′
Shocker!
Soul corner – 42′
Ball skips around, Shepherd shot blocked. Leads to another corner
Soul corner – 43′
leads to nothing
Marin corner – 45′
leads to another
Marin corner- 45′
header loops out
Soul free kick- 45+1′
bad ball hits defender
Soul corner – 45+2′
eventually claimed
First half notes:
Marin with an upset alert! Scores in the 40th after some sloppy work in the back. Their scorer: Knowles, has looked good. Marin playing well.
Soul with 8 shot attempts but just a couple on target that haven’t really challenged the keeper.
Sam Tran, Henar, Jones, Schoennauer on for the second half
Schoennauer shot high – 46′
Soul corner – 49′
SOUL GOAL!!!! Henar slams in a header
Samillo dangerous cross – 52′
Schoennauer shot on target- 56′
good feed by Carpio
Soul corner – 56
Sam header loops to keeper – 56′
Miranda on for Carpio – 57′
Sam shot wide – 59′
Tran shot on target- 60′
Forces diving save
Soul corner – 62′
SOUL GOAL – 63
Brinkman taps it in. Some great interplay. Sam put a shot on target and Brink redirects it on the doorstep. Laughs as she celebrates with Sam
Brinkman hits the crossbar – 70′
Longshot hits off xbar
Marin corner- 72′
good claim Layla
Schoennauer shot wide from distance- 73′
Nild shot high – 73′
Ball redirects toward Marin goal – 74′
near own goal
Schinaman tries a toe shot – 79′
BRINKMAN GOAL – 81′
Brinkman powers in a shot while driving in on the right side near the top of the penalty area.
Brinkman another look – 83′
Marin shot high – 86′
Schoennauer shot high – 88′
Henar shot on target, slow – 88′
Schoennauer shot wide – 90+2′
Soul corner – 90+3′