Fort Bragg boys soccer maintains league lead with 3-1 win over Lower Lake
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KELSEYVILLE >> The Kelseyville Knights will gladly accept offense from any and all sources these days, and four different players stepped up to provide goals in a 4-1 North Central League I win over the Cloverdale Eagles on Thursday in Kelseyville.
Erik Gomez Savalza, Joey Watson, Omar Mercado Marquez and Angel Bernal all scored as the Knights improved to 3-2 in league play and 6-5-1 overall. Watson and Mercado Marquez also had assists.
“Much better effort all around for my team tonight,” Kelseyville head coach Kc White said. “We built a 4-0 lead and only surrendered a penalty kick on a handball in the 79th minute to keep us from the shutout.”
Added White, “When we play with heart and hustle, we are a good team.”
Gomez Savalza, a freshman, took advantage of a Cloverdale defensive miscue to score in the 15th minute, his first career goal.
Kelseyville carried that 1-0 lead into the second half, adding to it on a Watson goal, Mercado Marquez providing the assist, in the 45th minute. The same two Knights figured in the team’s third goal, this time Watson assisting on a Mercado Marquez goal to make it 3-0.
The Knights added an insurance goal in the 74th minute on a Bernal shot from 30 yards out.
“It was really nice to have Joey Watson back tonight,” White said. “Like Jair Inostroza Carrillo, Joey has been out since last Tuesday with a nagging knee injury, which kept him out of most of the basketball season last year. When he is out there, he just outhustles everyone. He is going to give you pure heart when he’s on the field. He is a wonderful, mature presence for my young squad as well.”
Kelseyville plays at Middletown on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Clear Lake 1, Middletown 0
At Lakeport, Levi Ewing scored in the first half and the Clear Lake Cardinals (3-1-1, 8-2-3) made it stand up in a shutout victory over the Middletown Mustangs (2-3, 4-5-2).
“Clear Lake scored early in the first half on a deflection and, unfortunately, we were not able to find the back of the net,” Middletown head coach Katie Robinson said. “Even with the score, our boys battled. We had three times as many shots on goal and maintained possession for most of the game, but we just could not get that ball across the line.”
Middletown picked up a red card in the second half and had to play a man down.
“Losing an offensive player created fewer opportunities for us to push forward and find the equalizer,” Robinson said. “We also lost a starter before the game even started due to an injury caused by holes on Clear Lake’s field.”
Added Robinson, “We may not have gotten the result we wanted, but I am proud of the way this team battled, stayed together and never gave up.”
Middletown hosts Kelseyville on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Clear Lake hits the road Tuesday to play Lower Lake at 4:30 p.m.
Fort Bragg 3, Lower Lake 1
At Fort Bragg, the Fort Bragg Timberwolves (4-0, 8-3-1) remained atop the NCL I standings with a home victory against the Lower Lake Trojans (2-2, 4-3-2).
Lower Lake scoring was not reported.
Lower Lake hosts Cloverdale on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Willits 1, Upper Lake 0
At Upper Lake, Willits scored in the first half and beat Upper Lake, keeping the Cougars (0-4, 0-10) winless in league play and on the season.
Upper Lake hosts Cloverdale on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
