UPPER LAKE — Suiting up just 12 players, which left head coach Daniella Santana with a solitary sub, the Upper Lake Cougars opened their North Central League II schedule with a 4-1 win over the Technology Titans of Rohnert Park in girls soccer action Wednesday in Upper Lake.
Karlee Zimmerschied figured in all of Upper Lake scoring as she scored two goals and assisted on goals by teammates Vanessa Becerra-Lopez and Ashley Sprague.
The Cougars (1-0 league, 7-2-1 overall) had a handful of players out sick and others who were just AWOL.
“I haven’t seen a couple in practice this week,” Santana said.
Forced to shuffle personnel around because of the missing players, Santana said she had only one of her defensive starters playing in their normal position.
Standouts in addition to Zimmerschied were Sprague, Kali Minnis, Raquel Carrier and Maddy Young.
Zimmerschied scored the first goal of the game on a penalty kick. Upper Lake took a 2-0 lead into halftime.
While the mercury ran into the mid-90s in Upper Lake on Wednesday, Santana said the heat affected the Titans far more than it did the Cougars. Even so, with only player on her bench, Santana said she had some tired players by game’s end.
Upper Lake plays Tech again in a non-league game Friday in Upper Lake at 3:30 p.m.
