BOONVILLE — With no substitutes to spell their starters on Wednesday afternoon, the Upper Lake Cougars fell 3-1 to the Anderson Valley Panthers in North Central League III girls soccer action at Boonville.
It was the first league loss for Upper Lake (4-1 league, 5-5 overall), a 7-0 winner over the Panthers back on Aug. 29 in Boonville.
“Anderson Valley was a lot tougher than the first time we played them,” Upper Lake head coach Daniella Santana said. “It was like a whole new team.”
Upper Lake entered play minus three starters. One missed with an injury, another was sick, and a third was absent for personal reasons, leaving Santana with the bare minimum number of players.
“I think we just got tired in the second half,” she said.
The game was tied 1-1 at halftime. Anderson Valley scored first but Upper Lake tied it late in the first half on a goal by Atlantis Jones, with an assist from Katlyn Minnis.
Santana had high praise for Minnis and Harmony Byrd.
“They never gave up even when they needed a sub,” Santana said.
Upper Lake returns to action Monday against Credo in Rohnert Park at 4 p.m.
