Three goals by Lenika Aguilar and two by Lydia Peplinski helped the Oak Harbor High School soccer team bolt to a 5-1 first-half lead on the way to a 6-1 rout of Anacortes Saturday, Sept. 10, at Wildcat Memorial Stadium.

Aguilar, a transfer student, scored the match’s first two goals off assists from Gillian Crossley and Courtney Coker.

After Anacortes (1-2) tallied on a long range shot to make it 2-1, the Wildcats dominated the match.

Crossley assisted on the next two goals, first setting up Peplinski and then helping Aguilar finish her hat trick.

Peplinski ended the first-half onslaught with an assist from Caylie Etherington.

Crossley put the finishing touches on her outstanding day with an unassisted goal in the second half.

While Crossley, Aguilar and Peplinski led the offense, freshman Mikhaela Cortez paced the defense with “incredibly solid” play, according to coach Mike Lonborg.

Overall, Lonborg liked the win but saw areas of improvement for his club as it heads into conference action.

“The girls played OK,” he said. “We were missing two starters, including our starting goalie.

“The ideas and thoughts were there, just not crisp enough.  The base is there, we just have to improve the speed of play and thought.”

Oak Harbor (1-2) goes to Edmonds-Woodway (1-1-1) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, for the Wesco opener.

========================

Jessica Vester (23) beats Anacortes’ Ellie Chambers to the ball Saturday. Photo by John Fisken.