CALISTOGA — One more down, just one more to go.
Behind two first-half goals from Vanessa Lopez-Becerra, the Upper Lake High School girls soccer team beat the Calistoga Wildcats 3-0 on Friday evening in Calistoga, improving to 21-0-2 on the season with just one game — a big one — remaining on their regular-season schedule.
Upper Lake closes out its North Central League II schedule Wednesday at home against Mendocino. The Cougars enter the game 9-0-2 in the league standings to Mendocino’s and Credo’s 8-1-2. What that means is Upper Lake can clinch the outright NCL II title with a tie or a win against the visiting Cardinals. If Upper Lake loses, the league race will likely end in a three-way tie provided Credo beats Tomales in its league finale.
“They did a lot better than the first time we played them,” Upper Lake head coach Daniella Santana said of the Wildcats, who dropped a 12-0 decision to Upper Lake on Sept. 28 in Upper Lake.
Lopez-Becerra opened the scoring with an assist from Ashlyn Rhodes. Her second goal came on a penalty kick.
Kat Lopez-Geary scored the only goal of the second half with an assist from Rhodes to make it 3-0.
Santana went to her bench early and often during the game.
“I played a lot of reserves,” she said. “I need to get them some playing time before the playoffs.”
Santana praised the play of Lopez-Becerra, Rhodes and Maddy Young. She also gave high marks to the performances of freshmen Sofia Cruz and Saphira Hughes.
Upper Lake reached the North Coast Section Division 3 championship game a year ago, losing to St. Bernard of Eureka. The Cougars begin another push for the Division 3 title on Nov. 2 when the postseason opens. The at-large and seeding meeting is Oct. 30 at which time the Division 3 field will be released.
