Lady Mustangs hammer Willits 6-1 in quarterfinals of Division 2 soccer playoffs
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MIDDLETOWN >> Another hat trick from senior Autumn Clark and two goals from freshman Trinity Wood powered the second-seeded Middletown Mustangs to a 6-1 trouncing of the third-seeded Willits Wolverines in the semifinal round of the North Coast Section Division 2 girls soccer playoffs Saturday night at Bill Foltmer Field in Middletown.
Middletown (12-8-1), the North Central League I runner-up this season, jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Wood, with an assist from Clark, and then Clark, with an assist by Alanis Sierra-Martinez.
Willits, third in the NCL I standings this season, halved that lead with a goal before Clark scored her second goal of the night to make it 3-1, the halftime score.
Wood’s second goal made it 4-1 as Bella Alcantar had the assist early in the second half. The Mustangs added an insurance goal as Clark completed her hat trick, taking a cross from Thira Hoage and booting it into the net. Not long after, Diana Montes connected into the right corner from the top of the penalty box
“Clark was able to turn the break through a couple defenders and finish with a nice strike into the left corner,” Middletown head coach Lee Hoage said.
“The game was special on several levels for us,” Hoage added. “It was the final home game for nine seniors who have played soccer here for four years. It was also a win to put us into the championship match, and for me it was the last (home) game as a coach.”
Hoage, who is stepping down at season’s end, gave high marks to his team’s overall performance.
“I was happy with this game,” Hoage said. “On a technical level it was solid. Our touches, traps, passes and movement were efficient and accurate. We used space well and supported each other. We played the ball to feet, were first to the ball and delivered nicely timed passes.”
Hoage also credited his assistant coaches, Ed Yebra and Amy Emerson, with greatly contributed to the team’s success this season in all facets, including player development and game strategies.
“There were so many players who brought their A game to this match,” Hoage said. “My defensive unit again was locked in My mid-striker connects were dialed. It was one of our best cohesive games of the season.”
Middletown can win the school’s third section title in girls soccer with a victory over No. 1 seed Credo (13-7-1) on Wednesday at Sunrise Park in Rohnert Park. Action begins at 7 p.m. Middletown and Credo met twice early in the season. The Mustangs fell 2-0 to Credo in their season opener Aug. 22, and the two teams tied 0-0 on Sept. 9. Both games were played in Rohnert Park.