MENDOCINO >> Short a few players, the Upper Lake High School boys’ soccer was reinforced by three members of the Cougars’ football squad on Tuesday during a 7-2 loss to Roseland Collegiate Prep in North Central League II action at Upper Lake.
Pancho Flores and Jovanny Martinez took turns playing goalie while Hank Nevarez recorded an assist on one of Alverto Solano’s two goals for the Cougars (0-10).
It was a 3-1 game after one half and 4-2 in the second half after Solano scored on a corner kick that twisted into the net just below the top of the frame.
“It was a pretty kick,” Upper Lake coach Kevin O’Brien said.
Upper Lake had a couple of other scoring opportunities before Roseland Collegiate spent nearly the remainder of the second half on the Cougars’ end of the field. Martinez made several heroic saves but couldn’t hold off the Grizzlies forever. They scored a pair of goals in a short span to go up 6-2.
In other action Wednesday:
Girls’ soccer
Mendo 3, Upper Lake 1
At Mendocino, in a rematch of a Sept. 1 game won 5-0 by Upper Lake at Upper Lake, the Cougars fell to the Mendocino Cardinals in non-league action.
“We were down three players, all with injuries, and we still have one out with a concussion,” Upper Lake coach Mandy Robbins said. “Mendocino also played much better this time.”
The teams were tied 1-1 after one half. Upper Lake’s goal came on a shot by Anisha Kalan, her first goal of the season and possibly her soccer career, according to Robbins.
“My team couldn’t get it together,” Robbins said. “Bad passing, no communication was happening out there. It was probably our worst game of the season.”
Upper Lake falls to 3-8-1.
