UPPER LAKE >> Reigning North Central League II and North Coast Section Division III girls’ soccer champion Sonoma Academy, its roster some 28 strong, rolled through Upper Lake on Wednesday with a 8-0 victory over the Cougars.
“Faster feet, faster footwork, lots of players,” Upper Lake coach Mandy Robbins said of the Coyotes, the dominant small-school team in the Redwood Empire and beyond.
They were opposed by a 14-player strong Upper Lake squad even though a handful of those players were less than 100 percent because of illness. By game’s end that number had dwindled to 12, according to Robbins.
“One had an asthma attack and one was too sick to go on,” Robbins said.
Sonoma Academy established a 6-0 lead in the first half, more than enough to do the job against the Cougars (2-7-1 league, 3-10-1 overall). When the Coyotes want fresh legs on the field, it’s no problem, according to Robbins.
“They sub the entire team at once,” she said.
Upper Lake did welcome back its top two keepers to the fold. Jazlyn Bonilla and Cheyanne Obedoza took turns in the net in their return from injuries. Bonilla played the first half and Obedoza the second.
The Cougars did have three shots on goal.
Upper Lake is scheduled to host Roseland Collegiate Prep on Friday at 3 p.m.
