By Loralei Rohrbach
Pleasanton RAGE ties Oakland Soul in a Physical Match.
The No. 4-ranked Pleasanton RAGE women’s soccer team earned a hard-fought draw against the No. 3 Oakland Soul on Thursday evening at Merritt College.
For the first time in their history against Oakland, RAGE tied the Soul– snapping a two-year losing streak to the club. The Soul had previously outscored Pleasanton 10–3 across three matches.
RAGE remains undefeated this season, with wins over Academica and Marin Siren. The result against Oakland sends a strong message to the Western Conference NorCal Division.
“We all love being the underdog. I think a lot of us are on college teams that are underdogs, and are really looked down upon,” Head said. “Playing against a team that has a stadium and a professional men’s sibling team is a big deal, so we all walked in knowing we are just as capable as them, just as good in one-on-one situations, and off the ball– and I think we showed that today.”
The Rage anticipated a high-pressure match against the Soul (2-1-1), with Head expecting to spend much of the night diving to stop shots on goal.
Pleasanton’s strong backline held firm, forcing Oakland into taking off-target shots. Kaytlin Brinkman and Miranda Nild each had shots on goal in the first half– Brinkman’s was saved by Head, and Nild’s attempt went wide.
RAGE struggled to effectively move the ball forward in transition during the first half, with much of their possession stripped at midfield or pushed to the sidelines by Oakland’s defense and consistent double-teams.
When RAGE did break forward in transition, their attacking unit often appeared out of sync, as several crosses went directly to Soul defenders.
The game’s most pivotal moment came when Trini Quiroz was awarded a penalty kick in the first half. The UC Merced fifth-year shot low to the left, but Soul goalkeeper Dina Frenkel made a diving save.
Quiroz was able to get another shot off, but her hurried nature due to the encroaching defense sent the ball straight to Frenkel’s chest.
While Alejandra Melendez was unable to score, her work in the center of the field off the jump, and tremendous control of the ball to evade defenders generated many of RAGE’s efforts to move the ball forward.
Pleasanton battled through a physical game, adapting to the size and aggression of the Soul.
“They had hard tackles, they were throwing their bodies at us, and at times going for the body first rather than the ball, but we caught on to it and battled back,” Vivianna Bravo said.
Bravo credited the defensive line’s communication and physicality as the difference-maker. Their ability to defend one-on-one and clear the ball back up to the top truly allowed RAGE to stay in the game and be competitive with a strong league team.
Additionally, Bravo noted that while it was hard to get the ball behind the net, it was clear they were frustrated.
“Once we got on their nerves, we knew we had them, and we could battle with them,” Bravo said.
While the match ended in a 0–0 draw, despite strong chances, including Quiroz’s penalty, the result reflected Pleasanton’s growth.
“Oakland Soul is a team that’s had our number in the past, but tonight we showed grit, discipline, and real growth,” Head Coach Sarah Fawcett said. “Holding them to a scoreless draw after three tough losses is a testament to the work these players have put in. We’re not satisfied yet, but it’s clear—we’re evolving as a team.”
RAGE’s defensive ability to contain some of the top forwards in the NorCal Division, force bad shots, and the forward’s unrelenting efforts to generate chances of their own solidified their status as an emerging contender in the conference.
“The tie game really shows other teams in the league that we’re ready for the season, we’re serious, and while this game was a hard battle, we’re ready to fight,” Bravo said.
Every player walked into Merritt College with a chip on their shoulder, ready to prove that they belonged in the league and deserved to be taken as a serious competitor.
“This game sends the message that it’s going to be really difficult to get a good shot, let alone a good goal, off of us,” Head said.