Eddie Aguilar scored three goals and assisted in two more to lead Sierra to a 5-0 win over host Lathrop to open the Valley Oak League soccer campaign Monday at Bennie Gatto Field.

 “It started off good,” Aguilar said. “The other team was tough but I think after a while we kind of wore them down a little bit.

 “Our passing was good today and our defense was solid. Luckily we were good enough to put in a couple of goals.”

 Sixteen minutes into the game the Timberwolves (1-0 VOL, 7-5) broke onto the board when Aguilar found Pedro Maciel on the wing and Maciel shot it into the net for a 1-0 lead.

 That score held for most of the rest of the half until Sierra got two more goals in the final two minutes.

 In the 38th minute Aguilar fed Jairo Zarate with an assist to make the score 2-0. A minute later Aguilar took a long pass from Eriq Kurys and got it in for a 3-0 halftime lead.

 “It is always good to start with a victory art the beginning of league,” Timberwolves coach Joe Pires said. “We knew we were facing a good team so we knew we had to start strong and we did with a 3-0 halftime lead.

 “They held us to 1-0 for more than 35 minutes, but they are not very deep so they got a little tired and we took advantage of it.”

 In the 49th minute Aguilar made a penalty kick and he got his hat trick in the 52nd minute when he powered back in a rebound off the crossbar on a shot from Joel Lemus.

 Sierra outshot the Spartans (0-1, 0-7) 28-13 with Timberwolves goalie Saul Aguiniga making 10 saves.

 “I just went out there and did what I did best,” Aguiniga said. “We had a good game. We played good and the Lathrop played good as well.”

Lathrop coach Alfredo Reynaga opted not to comment.

Frosh-Soph

Sierra 4, Lathrop 0

 Miguel Villasenor had two goals for the Timberwolves.

 Oscar Guitron had a goal and an assist for Sierra and Jordan Flores headed a goal in off of a corner kick by Sean Bettencourt.