LAKEPORT — Connor McCrea made a handful of spectacular saves, including a deflection of a penalty kick in the second half, and the Clear Lake Cardinals tied the Willits Wolverines 2-2 in a North Central League I interlock varsity boys” soccer game on Wednesday in Lakeport.
It was the season opener for the Cardinals, who held a 2-0 lead after one half.
Goals by Fabian Guzman, who scored on a penalty kick, and Roberto Alvarado, staked the Cardinals to the halftime lead.
Willits closed to 2-1 courtesy of Clear Lake in the second half on an own-goal. As McCrea was clearing the ball , his kick ricocheted off a teammate and bounced back into the net, giving the Wolverines their first score.
McCrea stopped a penalty kick a few minutes later to temporarily preserve the Cardinals” lead. Willits pulled even with 18 minutes left.
“Both teams had some chances after that, we had quite a few,” Clear Lake coach Brian Figg said. “But both goalies made some great saves.”
Clear Lake”s entire team has practiced together only one day and their lack of familiarity showed on the field against Willits, according to Figg.
“We”re still a work in progress,” Figg said. “We need more time together.”
Clear Lake”s conditioning was another issue.
“We still have some conditioning to do,” Figg said. “We had two players leave the game late in the second half with cramps.”
Clear Lake is home today to play Calistoga at 4:30 p.m.
In other action Wednes-day:
Varsity girls” soccer
El Molino 3, M”town 0
At Forestville, the El Molino Lions of the Sonoma County League spoiled the season opener for the Middletown varsity girls and new coach Louise Owens, shutting out the Mustangs.
“It was our first game of the season and we”re still working out a couple of things,” Owens said.
Middletown keeper Kelsey Welton stopped 17 shots on goals.
“She did a great job in there,” Owens said.
Volleyball
Lower Lake def. Gey-serville
At Lower Lake, Passion Allen”s eight kills propelled the Lower Lake Trojans to a season-opening win over Geyserville, 25-21, 25-12, 25-21.
Also coming up big for the Trojans in their first match of the 2006 campaign were Amber Shoffeitt, who had four kills and seven aces, and Darlena White, who had six aces on only nine serves.
“Not bad,” Lower Lake coach Danessa Udy said of her team”s early season effort. “It definitely showed us the things we need to work on.”
