Cougars score late to forge 1-1 draw in season finale for both teams
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MIDDLETOWN >> Chalk up another boys soccer season for the Middletown Mustangs and Upper Lake Cougars.
The two North Central League I squad played to a 1-1 tie on Tuesday in the season finale for both teams at Middletown.
Upper Lake’s Jaden Nunez scored late in the second half to erase a 1-0 Middletown lead as the Mustangs (0-11-1, 1-15-2) just missed winning their first league game.
“It was a tough game,” Upper Lake head coach Thomas Santana said. “Middletown played hard, so did we. We just couldn’t find the back of the net. In the first half we were attacking at their net hard, but nothing came of it.”
Middletown scoring wasn’t reported.
Middletown scored a first-half goal but could get nothing else against the Upper Lake defense.
“They (Mustangs) waited and played the counterattack perfectly,” Santana said. “In the second half they were attacking well but Alan Alvarado (Upper Lake keeper) had a great game. He had 11 saves.”
Middletown’s 1-0 lead held until Nunez earned a penalty kick and made it.
“We could’ve done a little more, but we fought hard and didn’t give up,” Santana said of his 13-player squad. “It was a tough season full of ups and downs, but I’m proud of the last 13 guys I had left standing at the end of it all. I’m proud of my seniors for giving it their all in their last game. We improved so much from the past two years and I’m excited to see what these juniors can do next year as seniors. There is a lot of potential next year. How they work in the offseason and their hard work in the classroom is what is going to determine what they can do.”
Upper Lake ended up 1-9-1 in league and 5-17-1 overall.
