TUPPER LAKE >> Alverto Solano scored a hat track in the first half and finished with four goals overall as the Upper Lake Cougars won their first game of the season, beating the Laytonville Warriors 6-2 in North Central League II boys’ soccer action on Monday afternoon in Upper Lake.
“We moved the ball really well and had moments where we looked like a team out there and not just a bunch of individuals,” Upper Lake coach Kevin O’Brien said. “I’m happy with the way the boys are playing. We’re a young team but we’re starting to gel. I just wish we had started to gel a little earlier instead of near the end of the season. I’m excited where this group is heading.”
Solano scored the first two goals for Upper Lake as the Cougars established a 4-1 halftime lead. Hank Nevarez headed in the third goal after teammate Josh Williams nearly scored on a bicycle kick shot that went off the crossbar.
“It hit the crossbar, bounced straight down and when it bounced up, Hank headed it into the goal,” O’Brien said.
Solano’s third goal of the half made it 4-1.
The Cougars added two insurance goals in the second half. Solano had one of them and Edgar Garcia the other. For the freshman Garcia, it was his first high school goal.
Upper Lake is 1-11 on the season. The Cougars are off until Friday when they host non-league opponent Stony Point at 4:30 p.m.
In other action Monday:
Girls’ soccer
Tomales 4, Upper Lake 1
At Tomales, the Tomales Braves tied Upper Lake 0-0 when these two teams last met in late September at Upper Lake, but the rematch on Monday proved to be all Tomales.
“They’ve improved from the last time we played,” Upper Lake coach Mandy Robbins said.
The Braves not only scored two goals in each half, but a Tomales player accidentally scored the lone goal for Upper Lake, that in the second half.
“We had a corner kick by Julia Mooney and one of their players kicked it in,” Robbins said.
Minus starting keeper Jazlyn Bonilla, who was out sick, the Cougars played the game with just two reserves.
“We had eight shots on goal but we just couldn’t get the ball into the net,” Robbins said.
Upper Lake travels to Boonville on Wednesday to play Anderson Valley at 4:30 p.m.. On Friday the Cougars return home to play South Fork at 3 p.m.
