KELSEYVILLE — Maurilio Gomora”s goal with 15 minutes remaining in the game lifted the Kelseyville Knights to a 1-0 North Central League I interlock varsity boys” soccer win over the St. Vincent Mustangs on Thursday in Kelseyville.
In a game pitting the runner-up teams in their respective divisions of the NCL I — the Knights in the North and the Mustangs in the South — the victory could have significant playoff implications for Kelseyville coach Eduardo Ledesma”s club, which will apply on Sunday for an at-large berth in next week”s North Coast Section Class A playoffs.
“I think we have a strong chance,” Ledesma said when asked about the Knights” chances of qualifying for the Class A tournament as an at-large team.
Kelseyville finished second to Fort Bragg in the North standings this season and St. Vincent finished behind St. Helena in the South.
Gomoroa”s game-winning goal against St. Vincent was set up by teammate Jesse Arroyo, whose bid for a goal was blocked by the Mustangs” keeper. Gomora collected the rebound and kicked it into the net.
“The defense played well, really the whole team did,” Ledesma said of Kelseyville”s effort in its regular-season finale. “The whole team played their hearts out.”
Kelseyville lost in the first round of the playoffs last season.
In other action Thursday:
St. Helena 4, Clear Lake 3
At Lakeport, down 3-0 after the first half, the Clear Lake Cardinals were promised pizza if they could score just once against NCL I South champion St. Helena in the league and regular-season finale for both teams. They did even better.
“We had nothing to lose,” Clear Lake coach Brian Figg said of the Cardinals, who were eliminated from the South race last week.
Matt Stegman”s goal early in the second half broke up the shutout and earned Clear Lake a pizza dinner courtesy of Figg”s grandmother. Then Robert Anderson scored to make it 3-2.
With only 10 minutes remaining, Armando Martinez” free kick pulled the Cardinals even and it remained a 3-3 game until St. Helena scored during stoppage time to win the game.
“It”s the best half of soccer we”ve played all season,” Figg said.
Lower Lake 2, Middletown 1
At Middletown, Rodrigo Zuniga scored twice in the first half for a 2-0 lead and the Lower Lake Trojans closed out their season with a victory over the Middletown Mustangs in NCL I North action.
Chuy Fonseca assisted on Zuniga”s first goal. His second goal was unassisted as he dribbled the ball all the way from midfield before shooting and scoring.
The young Trojans lose only one player off their roster to graduation.
Cloverdale 4, Upper Lake 1
At Cloverdale, Javier Cruz scored his 101st career goal as the Upper Lake Cougars closed out their season by losing to the Cloverdale Eagles in NCL I South action.
Luis Santana assisted on Cruz” goal.
Girls” soccer
Cloverdale 4, Upper Lake 2
At Cloverdale, Yessica Ayala and Becca Breton scored goals as the Upper Lake Cougars finished up their season with an NCL I South loss to Cloverdale.
Daniella Santana had an assist for the Cougars, who led 2-1 after the first half.
Middletown 12, Lower Lake 0
At Middletown, if the Middletown Mustangs can secure an at-large berth in the Class A playoffs, which begin next week, they may be able to do some damage.
Middletown, healthier than it has been in weeks, closed out its NCL I North and regular-season schedule with a lopsided victory over the Lower Lake Trojans.
The Mustangs, the runner-up in the NCL I North this season, won”t know their playoff fate until the at-large and seeding meeting is held Sunday at Walnut Creek.
“I really don”t know, I think we have a chance,” Middletown coach Louise Owens said when asked about her team”s chances of securing an at-large berth. “We”ll take whatever we can get.”
The Welton sisters ? Kayla and Kelsey ? scored two goals apiece as did Amber Preusser and Amber Begley for Middletown.
Volleyball
Lower Lake def. Clear Lake in four games
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans, on a pretty good roll of late, kept it going with a 25-19, 24-26, 25-22, 25-23 win over the Clear Lake Cardinals in NCL I interlock play.
Clear Lake changed up is offense and defense earlier in the week after losing Kristen Wascom to a dislocated finger and the setting services of Claire Mansell.
“They were adapting pretty well to it,” Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds said. “We played pretty well.”
Freshman Jesse Sondag led Clear Lake with 19 kills and nine digs. Other standouts were Katie Reynolds with 24 assists, Tiffany Tyrrell with 18 service points and seven digs, and Sunny McFall with six blocks.
Amber Shoffeitt”s eight kills and nine aces powered Lower Lake. Renita Gilliam, Tashee Denson and Darlena White added seven kills apiece and White also had six aces. Gilliam led the team with three blocks.
Lower Lake won the junior varsity match 25-11, 21-25, 15-8 behind 13 points, eight aces and three kills from Mirella Valencia.
five kills and 20 assists from Christine Powers, 10 points, three aces and eight kills from Amber Daniels, and nine points and six kills from Vanessa Jessen.
Middletown def. Willits in four games
At Willits, the Middletown Mustangs improved to 3-2 in the NCL I North standings with a 17-25, 25-18, 25-20, 25-15 victory over the Willits Wolverines.
“They actually played great after that first game,” Middletown coach Jennifer Breiner said. “They were asleep in the first game.”
Kayla Wood”s 14 kills and four aces and Kelsey Guzman”s 11 kills sparked the Mustangs. Jen Emberson led the team with six aces and Ashley Fisher chipped in with four kills.
St. Helena def. Upper Lake
At St. Helena, the St. Helena Saints beat Upper Lake 25-11, 25-21, 25-13 in NCL I South play.
“It was a not a good one,” Upper Lake coach Sandy Coatney said of the Cougars” performance, one that drops the team to 0-5 in league play.
Cierra Peel”s five kills and two blocks were among Upper Lake”s highlights. Rebecca Grupe added two blocks and five digs.
Editor”s note: Results of the Middletown-Willits and St. Helena-Upper Lake volleyball matches came in too late Thursday night to make the Record-Bee”s print edition on Friday.
