Kelseyville rallies past Clear Lake 2-1, avenges earlier 2-0 non-league defeat
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KELSEYVILLE >> After Mikaela Rico’s penalty kick tied the game with 11 minutes left, teammate Hiliano Rico scored with five minutes remaining, Mikaela Rico assisting, to put the Kelseyville Knights ahead to stay in a 2-1 victory over the previously undefeated Clear Lake Cardinals in the North Central League I girls soccer opener for both teams Thursday in Kelseyville.
The early-season league showdown matched the Knights (1-0 league, 7-1-1 overall), the defending NCL I champs, against the only team they’ve lost to this season. Clear Lake (6-1-1) opened the year with a 2-0 non-league win at Kelseyville.
In addition to being Clear Lake’s first loss, the Cardinals allowed their first non-penalty kick goal of the season, Hiliana Rico’s game-winning shot set up by Mikaela Rico’s assist.
“Mikaela Rico centered the ball into the middle of the goal box, and Hiliana Rico got her head on it and put it into the net,” Kelseyville head coach Irma Rodriguez said.
Clear Lake took a 1-0 lead into the second half on the strength of a Hailey Perez goal assisted by Haylie Garcia midway through the first half. The Cardinals missed a chance for a bigger halftime lead, according to head coach Gustavo Carbajal.
“We missed a penalty kick in the first half,” Carbajal said. “It was a very tough loss, but we will get back at it next week.”
Mikaela Rico’s penalty kick late in the second half gave the Knights the spark they needed to mount a comeback, according to Rodriguez.
“You could feel the life come back into the Lady Knights,” Rodriguez said. “From that moment on, thy started battling like they really wanted the game.”
The Cardinals’ second-half effort wasn’t nearly as inspired, according to Carbajal.
“We completely gave up in the second half,” he said.
Rodriguez said Clear Lake gave Kelseyville all it could handle from the opening minute to the final whistle.
“I have to give credit to Clear Lake because they put up a great fight,” Rodriguez said. “Their goalie is a great goalkeeper and made it very difficult for us to get past her. They have good players on their team and had some really good runs throughout the game.”
Rodriguez was plenty impressed with her Knights as well, praising the play of Grace Hobbs, Ana Gutierrez, Ximena Herren, Vanessa Reyes, Hiliana and Mikaela Rico, Dakota Burton, Brooke Poff, Lexxi Pantaleon, Aubrey Mullen, Kylee Denham and Jacky Chavez.
“We know that not every game is going to go exactly the way we want it to, but what matters is that they continue to fight, play together and encourage one another as a team,” Rodriguez said. “Today, they showed that when they keep battling and believe in each other, they can turn a game around.”
The same two teams meet again Oct. 6 in Lakeport.
Both squads return to action Tuesday. Clear Lake hosts Upper Lake at 6:15 p.m. while Kelseyville travels to Fort Bragg for a 6:45 p.m. game with the Timberwolves.
