UPPER LAKE >> Two young boys’ soccer teams squared off at Upper Lake High School in a non-league game Friday afternoon and after battling to a 1-1 tie in the first half, the Clear Lake Cardinals broke through for a 5-2 victory over the Upper Lake Cougars.
Wins have been hard to come by for both teams this season. Clear Lake (2-5-2) hadn’t won since its Sept. 1 season opener against Credo. Upper Lake (0-8) is still looking for win No. 1 under first-year coach Kevin O’Brien, who said the strain of three games in one week and with no reserves in any of those game finally took its toll on the Cougars in the second half.
“The first half we were very even, both teams played really well,” O’Brien said. “We just started running out of gas in the second half.”
Josh Williams collected a shot by teammate Alverto Solano that ricocheted off the Clear Lake keeper to score Upper Lake’s goal in the first half. Solano scored on a long free kick in the second half for the Cougars’ other goal.
“His team played with heart .. he didn’t have any subs,” Clear Lake coach Tony Paskaly said.
After pulling ahead in the second half the Cardinals went to their reserves, according to Paskaly.
“They played a lot,” he said. “It was a good game for them to learn and get a lot of playing time.”
Luis Julian Martinez had two goals and two assists for the Cardinals while teammate Luis Muniz added one goal and one assist. Ulices Valencia and Tajikistan foreign exchange student Ozod Ermatov also scored for Clear Lake.
Both teams resume league play next week. Clear Lake travels to Kelseyville on Tuesday in North Central League I action at 4 p.m. while Upper Lake hosts Roseland Collegiate Prep on Wednesday in NCL II action at 4:30 p.m.
