Varsity drops 5-1 decision while junior varsity squad falls 7-0
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PETALUMA >> Diego Rico scored with an assist from Alex Jimenez, but the Kelseyville High School varsity boys soccer team fell 5-1 to the Casa Grande Gauchos during non-league action Monday in Petaluma.
“Casa Grande was extremely fast, and it took us a little while to adjust,” Kelseyville head coach KC White said. “We allowed goals in the seventh and 15th minutes before we could find our footing. We answered a minute later with our best goal of the year. It was a beautiful display of passing that all started with Luis Valdovinos, who passes it to Alex Jimenez on the wing, who then delivered a beautiful through ball to Diego Rice to the cut deficit in half.”
Added White, “It’s the type of goal that makes me thing we have so much more in us that what we have showed so far.”
Casa Grande boosted its lead to 3-1 with a goal in the 20th minute, which was the halftime score.
“When the second half started, we were the better team,” White said. “We created three or four excellent opportunities in front of the goal, but either we couldn’t get a foot on the ball, or we missed the goal wide.”
The Gauchos scored in the 55th minute for a 4-1 lead and tacked on another goal right before the end of the game.
“The scoreline is a little deceiving in that I feel we were the better team for a good portion of the second half,” White said. “We just ran into some bad luck.”
White gave high marks to the play of Diego Rico.
“Diego Rico is on a roll right now,” White said. “He has been playing very well recently. This is my third year with Diego, so I’m proud of how far he has come.”
White also praised the play of Gerardo Garcia.
“G is so consistent,” White said. “I put him on the field and never have to worry about him needing to come out. He plays 80 minutes every game and probably runs more than everyone on the field every game.”
After traveling to Woodland Christian on Thursday for a non-league game at 6 p.m., the Knights (0-11-2) play their first home game of the season Saturday against Healdsburg at noon.
Junior varsity
Kelseyville’s junior varsity team fell 7-0 to Casa Grande, falling behind 4-0 in the first half.
“The purpose of the JV season is to get the kids out on the field that wouldn’t normally have played without a JV team,” White said. “For that reason, I’m really proud of my team. They go out there with smiles on their faces and keep it there despite the fact that the result is not what they want.”
Added White, “They have practiced with us since the beginning of November and their dedication to the goal of improvement has never wavered. It takes a special group of kids to stay committed for that long with only three games in two months. They have a handful of games left, so I’m hopeful the improvements will continue.”
Jayden Fabisch’s play in the goal stood out, according to White.
“Casa Grande scored seven goals, but it could have been 27 had Jayden not saved 20 shots on goal today,” White said. “I have never seen a goalie display quite like that. Then, on top of that, Jayden played every minute of the varsity game as well.”
Kelseyville’s JVs, now 0-3 on the season, return home Saturday to play Healdsburg at 2 p.m.
