FORT BRAGG — Kayla Welton”s goal in the 19th minute was all the offense the Middletown Mustangs needed to beat the Fort Bragg Timberwolves 1-0 and clinch the outright North Central League I North varsity girls” soccer championship on Tuesday in Fort Bragg.
Middletown improved to 6-0-1 in the North standings with one game remaining, an away contest on Thursday in Kelseyville, where the Mustangs, 8-5-2 overall, will shoot for an undefeated league season.
“That would be extra sweet,” said Middletown coach Louise Owens, who will be leading the Mustangs into the North Coast Section Class A playoffs next week. The at-large and seeding meeting is Sunday.
“We want to go as far as we can,” Owens said of the upcoming playoffs. “I”ve got a good group of girls and need to take advantage of that.”
Teina Moore”s free kick was touched by teammates Zoe Everett and Amber Lofton before Welton booted home her game-winning shot.
“We passed real well and dominated the first half,” Owens said. “We really controlled the game.”
The second half was more of a defensive struggle, but the Mustangs were up to it.
Led by Shelby Davis, Emily Beckwith and keeper Kelsey Welton, who made two hard saves, Middletown”s defense kept the Timberwolves off the board.
“Basically in the second half everyone had to play well on defense and they did,” Owens said.
