Kelseyville, Justin-Siena soccer teams battle through pouring rain
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NAPA >> The Kelseyville Knights and Justin-Siena Braves battled each other as well as the pouring rain Wednesday during a boys soccer match in Napa where the two teams ended up in a 1-1 tie, Kelseyville coming up with the game-tying goal just before time expired.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Kelseyville (0-0-1) pulled even on a Luis Alvarado goal assisted by Diego Rico in stoppage time during the second half.
“Well, to tell you we’re a little wet is an understatement,” Kelseyville head coach KC White said. “It poured on us the whole game. I’m not going to say that it had an influence on our play today because the other team played in it too, but you could definitely tell it had an effect on us.”
Kelseyville spent the first 15 minutes of the game on the offensive, taking shot after shot but unable to find the back of the net. Justin-Siena pulled ahead 1-0 in the 27th minute and that’s where the score stayed until stoppage time in the second half.
“Diego Rico crossed it in on goal from the right about 30 yards out,” White said. “Luis Alvarado headed the ball and it hit the post. The ball bounced around for a few seconds before Luis found the back of the net on the rebound. The ref blew the whistle to end the game right after the goal.”
Alexis Martinez, just named to the All-League football team as an offensive lineman – Kelseyville’s entire offensive line shared the MVP award – made his soccer debut as the Knights’ goalie.
“Alexis is playing for me for the first time,” White said. “He has been to two practices and was thrust into the goalie role out of pure necessity due to our starting keeper being injured. He played tremendously back there. He kept us in the game by making some incredible, instinctive saves.”
Another standout for the Knights was Sebastian Cacho.
“Sebastian Cacho played his heart out tonight,” White said. “There were multiple times where he was fouled, one in the box, but didn’t get the call. He continued to battle and fight out there.”
Added White, “It wasn’t our best performance, but they kept fighting throughout and that’s the reason we ultimately tied the game.”
Kelseyville’s boys and girls return to action Friday in Live Oak at 3:15 p.m.
