Making the most of their one game during the week, the varsity Lady Cougars took a 5-1 victory off the pitch Friday, Jan. 14 at Riverbank.

It was the only Trans-Valley League contest on the schedule for the soccer girls last week and just the varsity played, as Riverbank does not field a JV girls team.

“Our sweeper, Alyssa Ball, played great defense and also had a hat trick,” said head coach Jamie Peoples. “She scored on a beautiful free kick and two penalty kicks.”

Notching the other two goals was Cali Granis, the team’s leading scorer.

“The team really stepped it up and played well; it was a great team effort,” Peoples added. “We only had two subs and were missing five starters so girls were filling in positions they don’t usually play.”

Among those stepping up, Giovanna Padilla had a great game defensively, said the coach.

“Jamileth Delgado and Aubryn Evans both had an assist,” Peoples said of the game against the Lady Bruins. “Riverbank couldn’t keep up with Cali’s speed and ended up fouling her in the box multiple times. She is really stepping it up for the team the last month. She is also filling in and playing midfield at times when we need her to.”

This week, the squads were scheduled to be on the road for two games, playing at Ripon on Tuesday, Jan. 18 after The Times went to press and at Livingston on Wednesday, Jan. 19.