SAN JOSE - Senior Dante Reinoso registered his second hat trick of the season, leading host Branham to a 4-0 win over Andrew Hill Monday night in a BVAL-Mount Hamilton Division boys soccer match.
Junior Angel Avalos also scored for the Bruins (5-3, 2-1 BVAL-MH) and junior goalkeeper Tanner Lanphear made two saves to post his first shutout of the season. Sophomore Lucas Cuellar had two assists, giving him a team-high nine on the season.
Branham jumped out to an early lead with two goals in the first nine minutes. Avalos scored with a first-time shot off an assist from the left side by Cuellar to make it 1-0 in the second minute. The Bruins doubled their lead in the ninth minute when Reinoso followed up a shot from senior Jacob Castro and pounded the ball into the upper right corner to make it 2-0.
Andrew Hill (3-4, 1-2) responded well after the second goal and had the better of the play through much of the remainder of the first half, but was unable to break through.
The Bruins made it 3-0 on a well-taken goal by Reinoso in the 48th minute. He brought down a pass from Cuellar, dribbled into the box and finished with the outside of his right foot.
Reinoso completed his hat trick in the 68th minute off a nice setup from senior Grant King, who made a great turn near midfield to elude a defender and played the ball through to his right. Reinoso unleashed a left-footed shot into the right corner for his team-leading 11th goal of the season. Reinoso previously scored three goals in a 7-0 win over Cupertino.
"Dante is playing at a very high level right now," said Branham head coach Danny Kadah. "His finishing has been outstanding and he has come up with severl different ways to put the ball into the net."
Both teams are back in action Thursday at 5:30 pm with Branham visiting Evergreen Valley and Andrew Hill hosting Leigh.
