MIDDLETOWN — She may be only a freshman, but she sure doesn”t play like one.
Hannah Diaz scored twice before the Willits Wolverines knew what had hit them, leading the Middletown High School varsity girls” soccer team to a relatively easy 6-0 victory in a key North Central League I North game on Tuesday in Middletown.
Willits, the team that figured to be the biggest obstacle to the Mustangs repeating as North champion this season, couldn”t stop Middletown”s freshman, who had three goals overall.
As a result, Middle-town completes the first half of the North race with a 4-0 record and a 11-1-1 overall mark.
“It”s a good thing,” Middletown coach Louise Owens said of the Mustangs” positioning in the league standings at the halfway point, “but it”s not really helping us at all as far as getting ready for the playoffs.”
The North — outside of Middletown and Willits — is weaker than it has been in past seasons while the NCL I South, led by St. Vincent, is stronger top to bottom. St. Vincent handed Middletown its only loss back on Sept. 16. In fact, St. Vincent also accounted for both of Middletown”s losses last season, the final one coming in the semifinal round of the North Coast Section playoffs.
The Mustangs will get perhaps their final test before start of the playoffs, which begin next month, on Thursday when they host South title contender St. Helena.
“That should be a good game,” Owens said.
Middletown beat St. Helena 2-1 on Sept. 28 in St. Helena.
In Tuesday”s action against Willits, Diaz attempted Middletown”s first three shots of the game and scored twice as the Mustangs built a 3-0 halftime lead.
“She”s so dynamic, so explosive,” Owens said. “She”s fun to watch.”
Brittany Cash, the reigning NCL I North most valuable player, added a goal and three assists, and Tanya Nance and Kylie Agapoff also scored.
“She”s like the playmaker,” Owens said of the junior Cash. “Defenses don”t know whether to go out to her or stay back against some of our other threats.”
Middletown”s defense, led by sweeper Katy August, helped generate many of the Mustangs” goals.
“They were creating our offensive attacks,” Owens said. “That”s what we saw from St. Vincent.”
