Mustangs blank Cougars, Cardinals fall to league-leading Timberwolves
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KELSEYVILLE >> After a scoreless first half, the Kelseyville Knights and Lower Lake Trojans settled for a 1-1 tie in North Central League I boys soccer action Thursday at Kelseyville High School.
It was the second meeting this year between the two teams and the second tie – they battled to a 0-0 draw in the Tyler Duncan Memorial Tournament last month although the Knights went on to win the tournament final in a penalty kick shootout (officially a tie for record purposes).
“We get the best out of Lower Lake and they get the best out of us,” Kelseyville head coach Kc White said. “We have played five times since we returned to fall soccer last season. We have tied three times and split the other two. It’s been about as close as it can get. It’s a really fun rivalry where we all respect each other, so that makes it really exciting for all the players.”
Kelseyville (4-2-1 league, 7-5-2 overall) applied plenty of pressure in the first half with 11 shots on goal, but Lower Lake (3-2-1, 5-3-3) turned the Knights away each time.
“When you get that many opportunities and don’t score, the team kind of lets down at halftime,” White said. “It’s been tough for us to carry our first half play into the second half this season. I have been trying different things to try to keep up locked in, but nothing really has worked.”
Lower Lake broke through in the 50th minute, taking advantage of what White called a “defensive miscue” on the part of the Kelseyville defense.
“That was my defense’s only mistake this game,” White said. “They were rock solid for the other 79 minutes. Lower Lake had only two shots on goal.”
Kelseyville finally found the net in the 69th minute, beginning with a throw-in by Gavin Cunningham to Erik Gomez Savalza, who passed it back to Cunningham. Cunningham tried to cross the ball into the box but instead hit a shot over the keeper’s head and into the net to tie the game.
“A beautiful shot,” White said.
Kelseyville continued to apply pressure the final 10 minutes to no avail.
“I’m never content with tying a game,” White said. “I want to instill the mindset of never settling in my players. We should always push for the win, and that really goes for anything in life too; put full effort in at all times.”
White cited the strong play on defense by Cunningham, Gerardo Garcia, Inte Lopez, Jorge Gonzalez and Manny Hernandez as being instrumental in the outcome.
“They allowed just two shots on goal tonight, and that’s really impressive, especially against a team of Lower Lake’s caliber,” White said. “Mistakes happen and fortunately we were saved tonight by some heroics, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t spectacular for the rest of the game.”
Added White, “Erik Gomez Savalza earned himself more playing time tonight. He didn’t get in until late in the game, but he gave me intensity, aggressiveness and heart, and that’s all I’m really looking for. The good news is he is only a freshman. I’m so excited for his future and to watch him grow.”
Lower Lake’s goal scorer was not reported.
Kelseyville opens the second half of its league schedule Tuesday against Clear Lake in Lakeport at 4:30 p.m. Lower Lake hosts Upper Lake at 4:30 p.m.
In other boys soccer action Thursday:
Middletown 4, Upper Lake 0
At Upper Lake, Wyatt Davis scored two goals and assisted on another as the Middletown Mustangs used a scoring spree in the second half to pull away from the Upper Lake Cougars.
Middletown (3-4, 5-6-2) scored three goals during a 10-minute span in the second half to add to a 1-0 halftime lead.
Davis, who scored in the first half for Middletown, added a second goal in the 68th minute, assisted by freshman Isaac Delgado. In the 73rd minute, Delgado found the net, assisted by Davis, to make it a 3-0 game. Five minutes later Carter Rarick scored for the Mustangs, assisted by Alfredo Barrintos.
Caleb Ahlmann assisted on Middletown’s first-half goal.
“We came out strong against Upper Lake, with all of our seniors earning the start,” Middletown head coach Katie Robinson said. “We created several scoring opportunities throughout the game, but Upper Lake’s goalkeeper made us work for every goal, turning away several shots and keeping the game competitive. We started to lose our focus a bit and struggled to score the rest of the first half.”
Added Robinson, “As the game went on, our passing improved, and the boys did an excellent job finding open space, winning balls, and working together to build attacking opportunities. That teamwork really started to pay off late in the second half.”
Middletown’s defense was led by David Reyes with 18 steals, Ren Ueno with 12 and captain Luis Pamatz with 11.
“Credit to Upper Lake for competing hard throughout the game,” Robinson said.
Middletown opens the second half of its league schedule Tuesday at home against Willits at 4:30 p.m. Upper Lake (0-6, 0-12) travels to Lower Lake for a 4:30 p.m. game.
Fort Bragg 3, Clear Lake 1
At Fort Bragg, the league-leading Fort Bragg Timberwolves (5-1, 10-4-1) built a 2-0 halftime lead and went on to beat the Clear Lake Cardinals (3-3-1, 8-4-3).
Fort Bragg leads a tightly packed NCL I field at the halfway point of the league race. Behind the Timberwolves are Willits (4-1-2), Kelseyville (4-2-1), Lower Lake (3-2-1) and Clear Lake.
Clear Lake’s goal scorer was not reported.
Clear Lake returns home Tuesday to play Kelseyville at 4:30 p.m.
