MIDDLETOWN — Early goals by Brittany Cash and Emily Reed staked the Middletown High School girls” soccer team to a lead they would not relinquish Friday afternoon in a 7-1 non-league victory over the Calistoga Wildcats at Middletown.
Cash finished with three goals and Reed had two as the Mustangs, 5-0 winners over Calistoga on Wednesday in Calistoga, improved to 3-0 on the season. They face a big test on Monday when they host St. Vincent, the only team that beat them a year ago (Middletown went 16-2-2 but lost to the Petaluma team by 2-0 scores in the regular season and again in the semifinal round of the playoffs).
“We”re going to have to click on all cylinders, offensively and defensively, to beat them,” Middletown coach Lee Hoage said of St. Vincent. “We”re going to have to step up and put the pressure on them early.”
Each of Middletown”s last four losses — two in 2010 and two in 2009 — have come to St. Vincent.
Against Calistoga on Friday, the Mustangs overcame a sluggish first-half effort that produced a 3-1 lead.
“We had an intense halftime talk and came out fired up in the second half,” Hoage said. “We got into our rhythm.”
Middletown was minus standout sophomore midfielder Hannah Diaz, who was participating in a club game. Diaz, the MVP of the North Central League I North last season as a freshman, is expected to play against St. Vincent, according to Hoage.
With Diaz out, Wilkinson moved into her position at right-mid and turned in a great effort, according to Hoage.
“She was very confident and good with the ball,” Hoage added.
Wilkinson also scored a goal and had an assist. Alicia Solomon had the other Middletown goal.
While Cash and Reed were the standouts on offense, Middletown also received solid play on defense from sweeper Maddie Kucer and stopper Maria Castaldo.
“They played at a very high level, very smart, very disciplined,” Hoage said.
