Tomas Alvarado scored two goals to give the Meridian boys' soccer team a 3-1 win at home over Nooksack Valley in a Northwest Conference game Wednesday, March 20.

"We came out pretty well but we just could not finish," Meridian coach Joe Spencer said in a phone interview. "Half of it was good goalkeeping by their keeper, half of it was our inability to put away easy chances. Finally in the second half we snuck some through and got the result."

Alvarado scored in the 24th minute and the 55th minute. Zach Donahue scored Meridian's (1-0-1 NWC, 2-2-1) other goal in the 53rd minute.

"Tomas played really hard and wasn't feeling well, so to get the two goals was really good," Spencer said. "Pavel Melnyk kept us organized in the back but it was one of those games we're happy to get a win but will forget about it and move on."

Luke VanWingerden scored the Pioneers' (0-2-0 NWC, 1-3-0) lone goal in the 39th minute.

Both Nooksack Valley and Meridian play Northwest Conference matches on Friday, March 22, with the Pioneers hosting Blaine and the Trojans traveling to Sedro-Woolley.

MERIDIAN 3, NOOKSACK VALLEY 1

Scoring: Goal: Tomas Alvarado (Meridian), assist: Kody Moreno, time: 24:00; Goal: Luke VanWingerden (NV), assist: Luis Garcia, time: 39; Goal: Zach Donahue (Meridian), time: 53:00; Goal: Tomas Alvarado (Meridian), assist: Jake Birnel, time: 55:00.