Bishop O'Dowd High School Women's Soccer Team Caps Historic Season

Oakland high school program builds a rising dynasty with undefeated regular season and playoff push

Feb. 21, 2026 at 12:07pm

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Oakland's Bishop O'Dowd High School girl's soccer team capped an impressive 14-0 regular season with a victory over Berkeley High, marking an historic achievement for the Dragons. The transformation of the program under head coach Mark Savvides, the rise of multi-sport athletes like freshman Sadie Siedel, and the team's strong chemistry have all contributed to their success, offering a glimpse into evolving trends in high school athletics.

Why it matters

Bishop O'Dowd's success story highlights the increasing importance of strategic coaching, the shift towards multi-sport athlete development, and the power of team chemistry in high school sports. The program's dominance serves as a model for other athletic programs looking to build championship-caliber teams.

The details

In three years since Coach Mark Savvides took over, he has reshaped the Bishop O'Dowd soccer program with his vision to build a championship-caliber team. His proactive approach and recruitment of talented players like freshman Sadie Siedel, who also plays for the U.S. Women's National Team and the Oakland Soul, have fueled the team's success. Beyond individual talent, the team's strong bond, fostered through pre-game rituals and off-field retreats, has been a significant factor in their dominance, which is reflected in their impressive 87-1 goal differential and single goal conceded all season.

  • Bishop O'Dowd finished the regular season with a perfect 14-0 record.
  • The team defeated Berkeley High in their final regular season game.

The players

Mark Savvides

The head coach of the Bishop O'Dowd High School women's soccer team, who has transformed the program in the past three years.

Sadie Siedel

A freshman at Bishop O'Dowd High School who is also a standout player for the U.S. Women's National Team and the Oakland Soul, demonstrating exceptional talent and commitment to the sport.

Abby Forsgren

A senior at Bishop O'Dowd High School and a four-year starter on the soccer team, contributing both skill and leadership to the team's success.

Chloe Keating

A senior at Bishop O'Dowd High School and a four-year starter on the soccer team, contributing both skill and leadership to the team's success.

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What they’re saying

“Even though we play for different clubs we all came together and created this like kind of super team of girls who were ready to compete and everyone wants to win so I just think that's a great combination.”

— Sadie Siedel

“The environment we've built this year, were all so close, really great friends…all of us can travel talk to each other and we're all just having fun out there together.”

— Abby Forsgren, Senior

What’s next

With a perfect regular season under their belt, Bishop O'Dowd's women's soccer team now sets its sights on the playoffs, aiming for their first NorCal championship in program history.

The takeaway

Bishop O'Dowd's success story demonstrates the power of strategic coaching, holistic athlete development, and strong team chemistry in high school sports, serving as a model for other programs looking to build championship-caliber teams.