LOWER LAKE >> The Fort Bragg Timberwolves not only got the jump on the Lower Lake Trojans on Tuesday afternoon in the North Central League I opener for both of these varsity boys” soccer teams, but they jumped all over them.
Fort Bragg built a 4-1 halftime lead en route a 7-3 victory at Lower Lake High School where host coach Dan Griffin said the Timberwolves, a team with plenty of speed, kept the pressure on his defense nearly the entire way.
“Fort Bragg has a great offense and some holes on defense, but they were able to control the ball more than us,” Griffin said.
Compounding Lower Lake”s struggles on defense was the loss of Mauricio Jauregui in the first minute of the game. Already questionable because of a muscle pull, Jauregui tried to play but just couldn”t do it, according to Griffin.
“It”s really tough not having him because he makes up the center of our defense,” Griffin said.
David Fernandez scored each of Lower Lake”s first two goals, the second one coming early in the second half to make it a 4-2 game. The Trojans had a chance to cut that deficit to 4-3 on a breakaway moments later but Fernandez just missed the frame.
“We had a chance to get it back to one,” Griffin said.
Fort Bragg scored early in the first half to go up 1-0 and had a 2-0 lead not long after when a kick by Lower Lake”s keeper was intercepted and turned into a quick goal.
“Once they got that lead it was hard to overcome,” Griffin said.
Juan Ochooa scored Lower Lake”s final goal. Angel Jauregui, Mauricio”s younger brother, assisted on the first Fernandez goal while keeper Antonio Pimental assisted on the second when he sent a booming kick down the field in the second half.
“We played them on pretty even terms in the second half,” Griffin said. “I appreciate how hard they fought.”
Lower Lake hits the road Thursday to play St. Helena.
