Upper Lake loses top player to yellow cards late in first half
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WILLITS >> Playing without Jaden Nunez most of the way, the Upper Lake Cougars fell 2-1 to the Willits Wolverines in North Central League I boys soccer action Tuesday at Willits.
Nunez, one of the Cougars’ top players, picked up a pair of yellow cards late in the first half and was ejected, forcing Upper Lake (1-9 league, 4-16 overall) to play a man down the rest of the way.
“At about the 35th minute, my center back Jaden Nunez was given a yellow ‘for time wasting’ on a goal kick that he ran to get the ball that was out of bounds. Tensions still being high, he said something to the ref that caused the second yellow.”
The Cougars suited up only 11 players for the game, so the 10 players left on the field had to play the entire way with no substitutes available.
Willits scored the only goal of the first half, but Upper Lake tied it midway through the second half on an Anthony Simondi through ball that teammate Eric Tinoco knocked into the net for a 1-1 tie.
The Wolverines regained the lead with eight minutes left to play.
“Willits hit a deep shot that looked like it was going out but dipped,” Santana said. “There was nothing my keeper (Alan Alvarado) could do anything about. He had a great game with 12 saves.”
Added Santana, “It’s a shame the game went the way it did. My defense played great and with Jaden out, all my other players really stepped up big time. George Rahmer, Exiel Godinez, Gavin Dooley and Slade Coltharp were my standouts on defense.”
Upper Lake’s season is down to two games. The Cougars hold their senior night Monday at home against Roseland Collegiate Prep at 5 p.m., then hit the road Tuesday to play Middletown.
