UPPER LAKE — Upper Lake’s Sammy Avalos found the top corner of the frame despite the best efforts of Clear Lake High School keeper Rodolfo Arias and the first-half goal stood up for 1-0 non-league victory in boys soccer action Friday afternoon at Upper Lake High School.
The homecoming win for the Cougars (2-4-1) was their second straight victory of the season following a 3-1 league win Wednesday against Mendocino. They’ll try to make it three in a row this coming Wednesday when they visit Point Arena for a league game.
“It feels great,” Upper Lake head coach Thomas Santana said of the winning streak. “We’ll try to keep this going the rest of the season.”
Avalos’ goal at the midway point of the first half was set up by a long and accurate pass from teammate Manuel Villalobos. Avalos did the rest.
“He rocketed the ball by him,” Santana said of the pace of Avalos’ shot that eluded Arias.
“Props to the Lakeport goalie,” Santana said. “He figured out what we were doing and really shut us down after that.”
Arias recorded several saves largely because the Cougars spent most of the game on Clear Lake’s side of the field.
“They (Cardinals) did have very many attacks, maybe two or shots the whole game,” Santana said. “We were attacking the entire first half.”
Blaine Rhodes and Erick Espinoza anchored Upper Lake’s defense, according to Santana.
“They really carried the load,” he said.
