Both teams bring 6-0 league records into first-place showdown at Kelseyville
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KELSEYVILLE >> Knocked down hard right before halftime, Kelseyville High School senior Mikaela Rico returned the favor in the second half.
With Lower Lake (6-1 league, 10-4-1 overall) leading 1-0 at the break Tuesday during a North Central League I girls soccer first-place showdown in Kelseyville, Rico scored a hat trick in the second half to propel Kelseyville to a 4-1 win and the undisputed league lead at the halfway point of the 2026 season.
Kelseyville (7-0, 13-1-1) won its 19th straight league game dating back through last season when the Knights captured the NCL I title with a 12-0 mark. They are 20-0-1 in their last 21 league games.
“Today’s game against the Lower Lake Trojans was a good, hard-fought game by both teams,” Kelseyville head coach Irma Rodriguez said. “The first half was a little tough for the Lady Knights. Lower Lake was able to get through our defense.”
Lorena Inong’s goal at the 22-minute mark put the Trojans up 1-0, and Lower Lake’s defense thoroughly shut down Kelseyville’s attack the remainder of the half.
Lower Lake’s lead disappeared in the span of a couple of minutes in the second half. Kylee Denham fed the ball to Rico, who blasted it into the net to tie the score at 1-1. Moments later the Knights were awarded a penalty kick, and Hiliana Rico knocked the ball into the net for a 2-1 Knights lead.
Kelseyville gained some breathing room with another penalty kick, this one by Mikaela Rico, a few minutes later to make it 3-1. The Knights weren’t done yet, however, and Mikaela Rico earned her hat trick by scoring on yet another penalty kick with nine minutes left for a 4-1 lead.
Just as Lower Lake’s defense stopped Kelseyville cold in the first half, the Knights’ defense rebuffed any and all Trojan threats the final 40 minutes.
“We have to give a lot of credit to our defense,” Rodriguez said. “Ximena Herren, Dakota Burton, Brooke Poff, Ana Garcia and Lexxi Panteleon did a fantastic job shutting down Lower Lake’s attacks. Grace Hobbs also came up with some big saves on dangerous shots and kept Lower Lake from scoring again.”
Added Rodriguez, “The first half was a little rough, but the girls reset at halftime and came back together. Our midfielders, defenders and strikers worked together, communicated and supported one another.”
The two teams meet again Oct. 27 in Lower Lake, the final day of the regular season.
“We are very proud of this team,” Rodriguez said.
Kelseyville faces another test Tuesday when it opens the second half of its league schedule with a road game in Lakeport against Clear Lake (4-3), the only team that has beaten the Knights this year. The Cardinals defeated Kelseyville 2-0 in the season opener for both teams Aug. 18 in Kelseyville. The Knights won the first league meeting, 2-1, on Sept. 10 in Kelseyville.
Clear Lake 3, Fort Bragg 1
At Fort Bragg, Jeanette Luevano scored twice while Sellena Carbajal added a goal and an assist as the Clear Lake Cardinals turned back the Fort Bragg Timberwolves.
Clear Lake (4-3, 11-3-1) did all of its scoring in the first half while opening up a 3-0 halftime lead.
“It was a great match,” Clear Lake head coach Gustavo Carbajal said.
Hailey Perez and Haylie Garcia also had assists for the Cardinals, winners of five of their last six.
Clear Lake opens the second half of its league schedule Tuesday against undefeated league leader Kelseyville (7-0) at 6:15 p.m. It’s the third meeting this season between the two teams, with the series tied 1-1.
Middletown 2, Upper Lake 0
At Middletown, the Middletown Mustangs snapped a three-game league losing streak by shutting out the Upper Lake Cougars (1-6, 1-12).
“Tonight was another tough loss,” Upper Lake head coach Jim Keck said. “The Upper Lake girls had many good runs, especially in the second half, but just were not able to capitalize.”
Middletown (3-4, 7-8) scored both of its goals in the first half. Names of the goal scorers were not reported.
Keck praised the play of keepers Charlie Robbins (first half) and Grace Abreu (second half).
Both teams return to action Tuesday. Upper Lake travels to Lower Lake (6:15 p.m.) and Middletown hosts Willits (4:30 p.m.)