Tyler Duncan Memorial Tournament play wraps up Saturday
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UPPER LAKE >> Despite spending most of the first half on McKinleyville’s side of the field, the Kelseyville High School boys soccer team couldn’t find the back of the net and went on to fall 2-0 to the Panthers in the championship game of the Tyler Duncan Memorial Tournament on Saturday in Upper Lake.
“We started the game really well,” Kelseyville head coach Kc White said. “We were more aggressive than they were and we played in their half of the field most of the first half.”
Jair Inostroza Carrillo had two solid shots on goal early on, and Kelseyville also came up short on a penalty shot that was blocked before McKinleyville, taking advantage of a Knights defensive miscue, scored in the 25th minute to go up 1-0.
“We stayed 1-0 through almost the whole second half, but in our efforts to level the score we gave McKinleyville their second goal with two minutes left in the game,” White said.
Looking back on the loss, White said he couldn’t fault the Knights’ effort in their second straight Tyler Duncan title game appearance.
“Effort is not the issue for my team right now,” White said. “I feel like we are getting better with our spacing and our passing every game, however, the six games in two weeks have taken its toll on us, especially since we play a physical brand of soccer.”
Added White, “I have multiple guys banged up with injuries right now, some of them injured last Saturday in our game versus Arcata and some of them hurt in this game. Fortunately, we don’t have a game until Friday, so we can rest up and work on conditioning, which I feel is lacking. We don’t have an offensive identity right now either, so we are playing close, tight games, which is preventing me from making substitutions. Playing teams like McKinleyville exploits your weaknesses, and as a coach I want to discover those now rather than during league season.”
Kelseyville (3-2-1) returns to action Friday against Westen Sierra Collegiate Academy of Rocklin at Mahany Park in Roseville at 4 p.m.
In other final-round games Saturday at the Tyler Duncan Memorial Tournament:
Middletown 4, Point Arena 0
At Lakeport, Xavier Yebra scored two goals in the second half to extend a 1-0 Middletown halftime lead and the Mustangs shut out Point Arena.
“W started the game a little slow offensively, but our defense held strong and kept Point Aena from finding opportunities,” Middletown head coach Katie Robinson said.
Freshman Eli Pulido scored in the 22nd minute to put the Mustangs (2-2-2) up at halftime.
Fueling a three-goal spurt by the Mustangs in the second half were senior center defensive back Nalu Johnson and sophomore midfielder Caleb Ahlmann.
“He has quickly become one of our leaders in steals and has been a strong presence on the back line,” Robinson said of Johnson. “Caleb Ahlmann played the midfield wing beautifully, moving the ball down the line and delivering it to our forwards to create offensive opportunities.”
Yebra’s first goal, assisted by Luis Pamatz, pushed the Mustangs’ advantage to 2-0. Yebra scored again a few minutes later to make it 3-0.
“The offense continues to be relentless,” Robinson said.
After sitting out the first half while resting an injury, captain Wyatt Davis entered the game and immediately scored for a 4-0 Middletown lead.
“I was happy to get every player who attended the game on the field and give them an opportunity to contribute to another win,” Robinson said.
Middletown hits the road Tuesday to play Kolbe Trinity in Napa.
