Aptos High’s flag football team beat Santa Cruz 54-6 in the teams’ Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League game at Harbor High on Wednesday night.

“I was pleased with how our team played, spreading the ball around to multiple receivers and running backs and taking a stand on defense,” Mariners coach Denise Russo said. “Santa Cruz is a young team with developing talent, and we know they will continue to grow this season.”

Julia Parello scored three touchdowns for the defending league champion Mariners. Mia Parello, Ella Porter, Siena Black, Lauren Galster and Izzy Graff also scored for Aptos, Galster and Graff’s touchdowns came on interception returns.

Parello made three extra points. Julia Silviera, Mia Sanchez and Jane Parry each made one.

Mia Parello, Porter, and Gaby Dow split time at quarterback for Aptos.

Santa Cruz’s Natalie White scored on a pass from Makayla Norman.

Soquel 26, San Lorenzo Valley 6 >> Katie Niizawa passed for three touchdowns, two to Chloe McGilvray and Haily Betterman, in the Knights’ SCCAL win over the Cougars at Harbor High on Wednesday.Quarterback Eliza Stevens threw a touchdown pass to Trinity Wilson for the Knights (2-0).

On defense, Soquel’s Josie Valby pulled four flags. Nevaeh Fellows pulled three flags and blocked a pass. Mia Bartom and McGilvray each made an interception.

Soquel plays Aptos at Santa Cruz High on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Watsonville 41, at Everett Alvarez 0 >> The Wildcatz rolled in their Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division opener on Wednesday.

Fernanda Lazo, Leilani English, Stephanie Martinez, Brianna Leon, Isabella Alvarez, and Monique De La Mora-Rocha contributed to the offensive outburst. English and Alvarez recorded interceptions.

Watsonville (1-3, 1-1) plays at Aptos on Thursday at 8 p.m.

Girls volleyball

At St. Francis 3, Pajaro Valley 1 >> Middle Delaney Fowler had 15 kills and outside Peyton Orradre had 11 kills in the Sharks’ 25-20, 25-19, 23-25, 25-23 win Wednesday.

Middle Carley Anderson had nine kills and two blocks. Setter Georgia Otzman had 25 assists for the Sharks, and Julie Lopez made 12 assists.

“It was a huge win,” Sharks coach Sabrina Bracken said. “The girls fought hard for every single point and it was the best I’ve seen them play as a cohesive team yet. … This game set the tone for this team’s potential.”

St. Francis (4-2) hosts the St. John Bosco Invitational on Saturday. The 10-team tournament begins at 8 a.m. It features SLV, Monterey, MVC, Mount Madonna, Santa Catalina, Gilroy, Thomas More, Mountain View, Priory,

Santa Cruz 3, at Mount Madonna 0 >> Opposite Haisley Flannagan had seven kills and six digs, and the Cardinals won 25-6, 25-16, 25-17 in thei SCCAL opener Tuesday night.

Outside hitter Inde Snell had six kills and seven digs for Santa Cruz, and outside hitter Natalie Monroe had six kills and four digs. Libero Shelby Leonardich had three kills, three of the Cardinals’ 13 aces, and a team-high 14 digs. Irie Butler had 12 assists.

Santa Cruz hosts Scotts Valley on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Men’s soccer

UC Santa Cruz 1, at Pacific 0 >> Michael Braun scored his second goal of the season on a pass from Nico Herrera-Land in the 76th minute, and the unbeatem Banana Slugs won in Forest Grove, Oregon, on Wednesday night.

Goalie Chris Jamrok made four saves for the Banana Slugs.

Herrera-Land, Joaquin Greenberg, and Marcus Hevesy-Rodriguez received yellow cards in the final 20 minutes of the physical match.

UCSC (3-0-2) plays Willamette (0-2-0) in Salem, Oregon, on Friday at 8 p.m.

Women’s volleyball

UCSC 3, at Occidental 0 >> Ashley Magley had 14 kills, and the Banana Slugs earned a 25-22, 25-15, 25-21 sweep in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

UCSC’s Kelly Ann Greene and Kate Lau each made seven kills. Margo Melgoza had 22 assists, and Kate Lau and Anna Hospodar each made six digs.

UCSC (5-4) plays a pair of matches at the Cal Lutheran Invite in Thousand Oaks on Friday. It faces Chapman (5-2) at 4 p.m. and Pomona-Pitzer (4-3) at 7 p.m.