MIRANDA — Daniella Santana assisted on Upper Lake”s first goal, but it was her own goal midway through the second half that lifted the Cougars to a 2-1 win over the South Fork Cubs in the season opener for both of these varsity girls” soccer teams on Friday in Miranda.
South Fork grabbed a 1-0 lead early in the first half. Upper Lake scored about 10 minutes later to pull even as Taryn Re, with a Santana assist, made it 1-1.
Yessica Ayala assisted on Santana”s game-winning goal in the second half.
“Oh yes, I was very pleased,” Upper Lake coach Anna Santana said of the Cougars” first effort of the 2007 season. “I was happy they didn”t back down after that first goal (by South Fork). Last year when the other team scored first, we kind of hung our heads.”
While Upper Lake came out a bit tentative in the first half, Santana said that all changed after South Fork”s players started to get physical with the Cougars.
“Once they started getting hit, they toughened up and started playing,” Santana said of her players.
Upper Lake keeper Maria Mendoza made nine saves.
The Cougars return home Monday to play Anderson Valley at 4:30 p.m.
