Knights defeat St. Helena 3-1 in North Central League I action
Lake County Sports on Facebook
ST. HELENA >> Three second-half goals, one each by Sebastian Cacho, Diego Rico and Manny Arias, lifted the Kelseyville High School junior varsity boys soccer team to a 3-1 win over the St. Helena Saints on Thursday in North Central League I action at St. Helena.
It was the first league win and first win of the season for the Knights (1-2, 1-5). Cacho assisted on one of Kelseyville’s other goals while Jorge Gonzalez and Luis Alvarado also added assists.
“I brought a few of my varsity players to play today, so it was a nice preview of what’s to come for us next season,” Kelseyville head coach KC White said. “A lot of the players on the field weren’t very familiar with playing with one another, so we started slowly, allowing a goal in the first 10 minutes of the game or so, but we had our chances too. I always rotate players in and out during JV games so everyone gets the opportunity to play. That leads to fresh legs but also may result in some rough play while everyone gets used to playing with each other.”
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Knights played like a different team in the second half, according to White.
“It only took them a half to get familiar with each other because the second half was a great display of soccer,” he said.
“Sebastian Cacho and Diego Rico got involved in a beautiful two-man game in the middle of the field and Diego put us in front,” White said.
Kelseyville picked up an insurance goal a short time later when Alvarado worked the ball to Arias, who blasted it toward the net. The St. Helena keeper blocked the shot, but Arias got the rebound and knocked it home for a 3-1 lead.
“The boys were having fun out there today,” White said. “They just enjoyed being out there, playing with one another as the season enters its final leg. It was good to experience that side of them. The season as a whole has been a hard one for them, but you watch a game like this today and you fill with pride knowing that despite the fact our seasons haven’t gone well, they are still smiling, still playing the game they love to play.”
Kelseyville’s JV squad returns to action Saturday in Ukiah at 1 p.m.
