UPPER LAKE — The Upper Lake Cougars took to the field with a heavy heart on Thursday against the Lower Lake Trojans, struggled to pull their emotions together early on, but went on to win 7-0 in North Central League I interlock varsity girls” soccer action at Upper Lake.
The Cougars (2-2) came close to forfeiting the game after the death early Thursday of Rachel McQueen, the mother of Upper Lake player Amanda McQueen.
“It was very hard for us,” Upper Lake coach Ana Santana said. “All the goals we scored were in her honor.”
Yessica Ayala scored Upper Lake”s first three goals, the first two off throw-ins by Jessica Swaney. Taryn Re added a pair of goals and Courtney Havrilla and Laura Wold each had one. Tanya Carter added two assists.
In other girls” soccer action Thursday:
Middletown 5, Cloverdale 0
At Middletown, Kaitlyn Agapoff scored a pair of goals and sister Kiley Agapoff added another as the Middletown Mustangs bounced back from a 3-0 loss to St. Vincent on Tuesday with a dominating effort against the Cloverdale Eagles in NCL I interlock action.
“It was a much different game from the last time we played them,” Middletown coach Louise Owens said of a 2-1 victory over the Eagles last week in Cloverdale. “I credit that to a tough game on Tuesday (against St. Vincent).”
Middletown (5-1) led 3-0 after the first half.
Natalie Diaz and Shelby Davis each had a goal and an assist for the Mustangs.
Kelseyville 2, St. Helena 1
At St. Helena, Megan Andre”s two goals propelled the Kelseyville Knights to their first win of the season as they beat St. Helena on the Saints” home turf in NCL I interlock action.
Both of Andre”s goals came in the second half as Kelseyville (1-3) erased a 1-0 St. Helena lead.
Instrumental in the victory were keeper Amanda Mueller, freshman defender Bryona Modesto and freshman midfielder/forward Bryanna VanWyk, according to Kelseyville coach Mark Andre.
“For them to come in there like that and play a well as they did, it was nice to see,” Andre said of his two freshmen.
Sophomores Maria Agurire and Reme Rico also turned in solid efforts, according to Andre.
Clear Lake 6, Willits 3
At Lakeport, Clear Lake scored three goals in the first 12 minutes of the second, part of a five-goal second-half barrage that rallied the Cardinals to a 6-3 NCL I interlock victory over the Willits Wolverines.
Willits led 2-1 after the first half.
“The girls got serious I guess,” Clear Lake co-coach Paul Larrea said of the second-half comeback. “We did play very well in the second, on defense especially.”
Elena Tipton scored two goals and had one assist for the Cardinals (6-2-1), and Anisa Green added a goal and three assists.
Green and Logan Brodnansky”s play in the midfield sparked the Cardinals, according to Larrea.
“They are so solid,” Larrea said. “They are our foundation.”
Boys” soccer
Cloverdale 4, Middletown 1
At Middletown, despite numerous shots on goal, including a pair of one-on-ones with the Cloverdale keeper, the Middletown Mustangs fell to the Cloverdale Eagles in NCL I interlock varsity boys” soccer.
“We had two clean and easy putaways, but we shot the ball right to the keeper,” Midddletown coach Lee Hoage said. “Several others shots just missed or were poor shots.”
Jason Canedlario scored on a corner kick in the second half for the Mustangs (3-5).
Willits 6, Clear Lake 1
At Lakeport, Matt Stegman scored in the second half for Clear Lake, all the offense the Cardinals could muster against the Willits Wolverines in NCL I interlock action.
Clear Lake (0-6) actually scrimmaged Willits” JV squad before playing the varsity because the Wolverines sent both of their teams to Lakeport. Clear Lake doesn”t field a JV team.
“We”re not at the level of the other teams yet,” Clear Lake coach Brian Figg said. “We”ve got to find a way to play better and we didn”t today.”
Volleyball
Clear Lake def. Sonoma Academy
At Santa Rosa, three up and three down may be a baseball expression, but it also fit Clear Lake”s dominating 25-2, 25-16, 25-8 non-league varsity volleyball win over Sonoma Academy.
The Cardinals overwhelmed Sonoma Academy behind 12 kills and 10 service points from Jesse Sondag and five kills each from Briana Butcher and Rylie Gabehart, who led the team with 22 service points.
Kaila Sterbank also had a good night at the service line with 13 points and eight aces.
Middletown def. PUC Prep
At Middletown, the Middletown Mustangs overpowered a tall PUC Prep team from Angwin, winning 25-14, 25-14, 24-26, 25-18 in non-league action.
Other than giving up a 24-22 lead in game three, Middletown coach Jennifer Breiner said the Mustangs turned in a strong performance.
“We hit well and served well,” Breiner said. “One of our setters was out and we had a little bit of trouble with defense, but otherwise my girls are playing so well.”
Kayla Wood”s 26 kills led the Mustangs. She also had four aces, the same as Jessica Boylan, who added seven kills. Kelsey Guzman chipped in nine kills and a block.
Lower Lake def. Upper Lake
At Upper Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans dropped the first two games, then rallied to beat the Upper Lake Cougars 19-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-19, 15-11 in NCL I interlock action.
It was the season opener for the Trojans.
“It was a tough one tonight,” Upper Lake coach Sandy Coatney said. “They made some good adjustments, particularly at the net.”
Coatney said the serving of Lower Lake”s Darlena White helped the Trojans rally from their 2-0 deficit.
“Her serves are amazing,” Coatney said of White, who had 10 aces and eight kills.
Renita Gilliam led the Trojans with 10 kills and four blocks.
For Upper Lake, Hannah Johnson had 10 aces and eight kills, Christina Wagner added seven kills, Katie DeVries had six kills and four blocks, and setter Brandy Claunch added 17 assists.
