Lower Lake faces first-place showdown with Fort Bragg on Tuesday in Lower Lake
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WILLITS >> Turnabout is fair play.
When Kelseyville hosted Willits on Sept. 22 for a North Central League I boys soccer game, the Wolverines scored two goals in the second half to win 3-2. The Knights returned the favor on Thursday in Willits, scoring two goals in the second half to snap a 1-1 halftime time and beat the Wolverines 3-1.
Joey Watson scored twice for the Knights while Erik Gomez Savalza added a goal and an assist as the Knights improved to 6-3-2 in league play and 9-6-3 overall. Jair Inostroza Carrillo picked up two assists in the wins.
“Willits is a really good team,” Kelseyville head coach Kc White said of the Wolverines (4-3-3, 4-8-4). “They have tremendous talent. It was no small feat beating that team.”
Best yet, the Knights clinched a playoff berth with their win, according to White.
Kelseyville jumped ahead 1-0 in the 12th minute on a pass from Inostroza Carrillo to a cutting Watson.
“Perfect feed, perfect finish,” White said of the Knights’ first goal.
Willits tied the score in the 35th minute.
“At halftime, I stressed a complete 80-minute game, and my team answered the call today,” White said.
Kelseyville pushed ahead to say just three minutes into the second half when Gomez Savalza scored, corralling a deflected ball and firing it into the net. The Knights picked up an insurance goal in the 72nd minute when Gomez Savalza fed Watson for his second goal of the game.
“My team wanted this one badly and they showed it with high-quality effort and intensity,” White said. “That’s the expectation and I hope we can carry that through the playoffs.”
White gave high marks to the play of Angel Bernal.
“He was sensational tonight,” White said. “He is small in height, but he is built and he uses his body beautifully in keeping possession. Angel is one of those guys who really needed to grow into his body. He didn’t play much his first three years, but he is playing with so much confidence in his senior year. It’s really great to see how much he has grown over the course of his career. I’m excited for him. He is a great kid.”
The Knights return to action Tuesday in Cloverdale at 4 p.m.
In other boys soccer action Thursday:
Fort Bragg 4, Upper Lake 0
At Upper Lake, league-leading Fort Bragg shut out the Upper Lake Cougars despite the best efforts of Cougars keeper Alan Alvarado, who saved 16 shots on goal through the first 70 minutes. Junior Peregrina replaced him in goal the final 10 minutes and had two saves of his own.
Fort Bragg improved to 9-1-1 in league play and 14-4-2 overall while Upper Lake fell to 0-10 and 0-15-1.
Other highlights for Upper Lake were three blocked shots by center back Mario Olvera, six blocked shots by center back Emmanuel Tapia, and two blocked shots each by fullbacks Dezmond Solomon and Roberto Urucha.
“Our defense went to war with a really good Fort Bragg team tonight with a total of 31 blocked or saved shots,” Upper Lake head coach Fred Miller said. “Our standout player was Emmanual Tapia. His speed is unmatched. Coaches and referees both gave him a lot of praise for his level to play tonight.”
Upper Lake hosts Willits on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Lower Lake 3, Middletown 0
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans shut out the Middletown Mustangs.
No other details were reported.
Lower Lake is 7-2-1 in league play and 9-3-3 overall. Middletown is 4-6 and 6-8-2.
Both teams return to action Tuesday when Middletown hosts Clear Lake at 4:30 p.m. and Lower Lake hosts Fort Bragg at 4:30 p.m. The Trojans can move into a virtual tie for first place with a win over Fort Bragg.
Cloverdale 2, Clear Lake 1
At Cloverdale, the Cloverdale Eagles won only their second league game with a victory over the visiting Clear Lake Cardinals.
Clear Lake scoring wasn’t reported.
Cloverdale is 2-8-1 in league play and 2-10-1 overall. Clear Lake slipped to 5-4-2 in league and 10-5-4 overall.
Clear Lake plays at Middletown on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
