Oakland Soul suffered a surprising 3-1 loss to Stockton Cargo to open 2025 on May 3. It already gives Soul one more regular-season loss than in 2024, when they finished their 12-game campaign 9-3-0.
Stockton Cargo got on the board first in the 34th minute when Hannah Diaz scraped in a shot after a pass was played to her front the right side.
Cargo took a 1-nil lead into halftime, with Soul generating some looks. Miranda Nild had a shot on target in the 17th minute after weaving herself free one-on-one with a defender. Nild later played a pass to Sam Tran charging into the area, but Cargo’s goalkeeper did well to rush out for the stop. Henar Urteaga closed the half with a long shot on target.
Oakland tied the match just two minutes after halftime in a corner. Leaping to greet the ball at its high point was Arianna Veland, heading it into the net. However, Soul’s joy was short-lived. Just seven minutes later, Cargo scored the go-ahead when Sam Tristan made a run behind Soul’s defenders near the 6-yard box in point-blank range.
Oakland couldn’t generate any meaningful opportunities in the remaining minutes, while Stockton’s Taylor Curtis put the game away with two minutes of regulation remaining. It happened on a buildup down the right side with Soul pressing forward for a goal, playing a ball across the face to find Curtis, who patiently put away a shot.
Here are some talking points regarding the game and roster.
Talking Points
- Tough first-game chemistry
Oakland likely walked into the match as the heavy favorites, but Cargo looked like the more synergized squad. Although Soul featured returning talent like Sam Tran, Miranda Nild, Henar Urteaga, Kaytlin Brinkman, Kyah Coady, and Arianna Veland, much of the W League comes together quickly.
In Oakland’s case, much of the roster has only spent days together rather than weeks–it’s a normal occurrence for W League teams at this point of the season. In fact, Cal Storm doesn’t start its season for another 11 days, while Academica also starts in eight days against Soul. Pleasanton RAGE gets going on May 22 as well.
Stockton certainly was a rough opponent to open a season against. They went 7-2-3 in 2024, just three points behind SF Glens. Per the W League’s site, Cargo returned 11 of its 17 players.
“We definitely had our struggles. I know the players on Stockton and their mentality; they were hardworking and were so smart with how they managed the game. They did a good job of knowing each other and they nailed their game plan,” coach Jessica Clinton said.
“Tonight was not Soul. We lost individual battles and willed it a little bit more in moments. We just weren’t smart in how we played, and we have the players to do so. We’ve set ourselves up for a big moment, but this loss is a good moment to reflect and build off of it.”
- Returning players
Aside from the players mentioned above, Soul’s initial roster includes the following nine returners who did not appear on Saturday: UCLA goalkeeper Layla Armas, Santa Clara fullback Malia Yamamoto, former St. Mary’s defender Marissa Garcia, Pennsylvania defender Clare Robke, UCSB defender Zoe Franks, Santa Clara forward Kennedy Schoennauer, San Jose State midfielder Tatiana Cunningham, Brown University midfielder Audrey Lam, and former UoP forward Lauren Frohan.
The over-23-year-old group has been the most involved in the early portion of practices, like Tran, Nild, Urteaga, Brinkman, and Veland. However, the majority of players are still finishing up college, and Soul still can’t run a full 11-on-11 practice.
“The over-23 group has been the only one at training. They’ve been the most consistent, but the tough part is, they are each in a heavy working phase with their careers. Our biggest group at practice has been 14 players,” Clinton said.
Veland landed the header goal for Roots. She’s converted from playing the front line to using her height in the back line.
“She was a forward in college and professionally, but I’m converting her to center back. She’s a helluva #6 too. Wherever you put her, she’s good. We want to find the best position to be more impactful,” Veland said.
- Newcomers
There are 15 new players on Soul’s initial roster, and many are bound to join in the coming weeks. Oakland’s Saturday roster featured players who still aren’t listed on the website, like Gathright at center back and Erikson at midfield in the starting lineup, and USC forward Keely Roy off the subs list.
Other new players to appear against Cargo included Carondelet senior and Idaho commit Miranda Goldner, former UC Riverside forward Natzyelly Marin-Valencia, and Santa Clara goalkeeper Ally Reynolds.
“Miranda Goldner came from Soul Recognize, just like we do with Roots Recognize. I invited her into training, and she’s been doing well. What a great spark coming off the bench,”
Giana Riley is one intriguing addition to the bunch. She played the last two years in Cal Storm’s W League squad and was their leading scorer last year. With Soul losing both of their assistant coaches to promotions within the club, Oakland signed Lloyd Grist as an assistant, who became a key factor in Riley’s decision to jump to a new W League team.
“Giana just got here during the week. I love her in a Soul jersey more than I love her in any other jersey. We had some turnover in our staff, and we were able to bring Lloyd Grist on, who has coached at DeAnza Force. They have a great relationship,” Clinton said.
Riley spent the first two years of her college career at Gonzaga and even got a spot on their basketball team. She transferred to Florida State for the 2024/2025 season and appeared on the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup team, which took third place.
“Florida State has goals for her. Playing right now gives her the best opportunity to reach those goals. I know a lot about her by playing against her; she’s really smart, she’s technical, and clean. Add to that what ACC athleticism requires, and she’s a difference maker. She’s a wide player in Florida State’s system, and we want to see her take players 1v1, we’re just scratching the surface.”
Sadie Siedel is another new player who got starting minutes on Saturday night. She is just 14 years old and has been called up twice to the United States U15 team.
“Sadie is 14 and is a U15 national player. She started in the #10 for us tonight. I thought she grew into the game. She’s a girl playing against women,” Clinton said.
“Sadie’s probably a future World Cup player at some stage. She’s an awesome local product from a great club, we have an opportunity for players to be in big moments. Some day, maybe Sadie will come back to us in her career. With her being at our games and our practices, she’s going to learn the speed of the game at the next level and to play against grown women.”
Other new players include Samia Adam, who has eight appearances with the Egyptian National Team. BYU’s Katie Larkin, Kate Plachy and Sydney Middaugh of St. Mary’s, Louisville’s Kailey Kimball, CSUEB’s Gabby Rodil, and Berkeley High junior Mia Sieminski.
Starting Lineups
- Oakland Soul
Oakland’s debut lineup features familiar faces like Veland, Tran, Urteaga, Nild and Murison.
Riley makes her Soul debut, same with the 14 year old Siedel. Heard she’s a baller.
Timeline
GAME TIME! Another year for Oakland Soul starts now.
Soul clear off the line – 4′
Soul having trouble holding possession – 11′
Murison longshot wide – 12′
Cargo free kick good area – 14′
outside the area on left side by a yard or so.
leads to nothing.
Nild shot on target – 17′
Dangerous look. Weaves by a defender before taking a shot.
Soul free kick – 24′
Cargo corner – 26′
Ball from Nilda to Tran in behind. Tran knocked over by GK – 29′
Soul free kick right outside area on right side – 30′
Low ball cleared
Cargo goal – 34′
Buildup down the right side, plays centrally in front of the net and Cargo scores from a forward laying on the ground, pushing the ball over Soul’s GK
Cargo longshot hits the crossbar – 40′
Longshot on target by Urteaga- 44′
First half notes:
Cargo leads and probably rightfully so. They scored on a low pass in front of the net, have hit the crossbar, and Soul cleared one off the line in the early minutes.
Soul playing a lot of passes in behind. Nild had their most dangerous look with a shot on target. Urteaga had a longshot on target, while there was a dangerous pass in behind to Tran. We’ll see if Soul can open the floodgates.
Soul corner- 47′
leads to another
Corner – 47′
SOUL GOAL
Ball in to Veland, who heads it into the net.
Cargo goal – 54′
Ball into the box and gets a player in behind. I thought she was offside, but no call.
Cargo shot high- 60′
Cargo another take sails – 64′
Veland plays it to Goldner, attempt goes high and wide – 77′
Soul corner- 79′
Corner – 80′
Goes out for a goal kick
Cargo scores on a counter- 88′
they left no doubt. Dangerous run down the right side, sends it all the way across the face and Cargo patiently sends one in.