UPPER LAKE >> It took a little longer than expected, but first-year Upper Lake High School boys’ soccer coach Kevin O’Brien and the Cougars finally made their season debut on Wednesday afternoon against the Rincon Valley Christian Eagles.
As things turned it out, it also was Upper Lake’s home and league debut after four scheduled games earlier this month were canceled because the Cougars didn’t have enough players. They did on Wednesday while dropping an 8-0 decision to Rincon Valley.
Upper Lake debuted with a 14-player roster plus four extra reserves courtesy of the high school football team in the event the Cougars needed the extra legs in their first game, which they did.
“It’s nice to play a full game against a league opponent,” O’Brien said. “I’m very proud of the fact that they never quit, they never gave up. They played hard to the end.”
Upper Lake’s roster is a bright shade of green with seven freshmen, three sophomores, three juniors and one senior.
“Everybody got minutes,” O’Brien said.
Rincon Valley scored early and often in the first half, keeping the ball on Upper Lake’s side of the field nearly the entire 40 minutes while building a 6-0 lead. The Cougars didn’t have a shot on goal until the second half, and then just one.
O’Brien said he was impressed with the play of sophomore defender Alex Serrano.
“He stepped it up on the back line and had a real good game,” O’Brien said. “He was our standout.”
Upper Lake returns to action Friday at home against Technology at 4:30 p.m.
