CUPERTINO, CA - Seniors Jacob Castro and Dante Reinoso each registered a hat trick and sophomore Lucas Cuellar scored his first career varsity goal as visiting Branham rolled to a 7-0 win over CCS No. 25 Cupertino Thursday morning in a non-league boys soccer match.
Castro got the 13th-ranked Bruins (3-2) on the board early with a goal off an assist from Reinoso in the second minute. Reinoso added to the lead in the 12th minute when he scored on a rebound off a shot from junior Angel Avalos to make it 2-0.
"It was key getting off to a great start," said Branham head coach Danny Kadah. "We're obviously not used to playing this early in the morning, so it was good to see us get off on the front foot."
Reinoso made it 3-0 in the 18th minute when he was set through on a breakaway off a punt from goalkeeper Miguel Ordonez that was flicked on by Cuellar. Cuellar then scored on a break of his own off a long diagonal pass from senior Timoteo Parra to make it 4-0.
"Cupertino was playing a high line so that was the perfect type of ball to beat it," said Kadah. "Our midfielders played at a high level. It was overall our most complete game of the year so far."
Castro scored a pair of goals within a four-minute span midway through the second half to extend the lead to 6-0. Reinoso capped the scoring on a breakaway off an assist from senior Jason Segura.
Both teams have completed the non-league portion of their schedule and begin league play next week. Branham opens BVAL-Mount Hamilton action Tuesday night at Pioneer while Cupertino (6--1-1) opens against SCVAL-El Camino rival Lynbrook Wednesday afternoon.
