KELSEYVILLE — Oscar Martinez scored twice in the first half and the Kelseyville Knights nursed a 2-1 lead throughout much of the second half before beating the Willits Wolverines 4-1 in a North Central League I varsity boys” soccer game Thursday in Kelseyville.
Willits made it a 2-1 game with a goal in the 54th minute and the scored remained unchanged until Cristian Macias gave the Knights ? and coach Eduardo Ledesma ? some much-needed breathing room with a goal in the 76th minute. Jorge Garcia scored two minutes later to make it 4-1.
“It scared me for a while,” Ledesma said of a 2-1 score that lasted for 22 minutes. “I was getting a headache.”
Willits packed in its defense, allowing Kelseyville (6-2 league, 8-4 overall) to take 21 shots on goal compared to only nine for the Wolverines.
The Knights got some much-needed help off the bench from Arnulfo Vargas and Zel Burgoyne.
“They didn”t play a lot, but when they were in there they did a good job,” Ledesma said.
In other boys” soccer action Thursday:
Fort Bragg 4, Clear Lake 0
At Fort Bragg, down to only 12 players after losing four to grades, the Clear Lake Cardinals and standout keeper Raymundo Gregorio still managed to give the undefeated Fort Bragg Timberwolves (6-0-2) a game in NCL I action.
“He did a good job today,” Clear Lake coach Luis Martinez said of Gregorio, who turned back many shots by the Timberwolves.
“They did their best,” Martinez added of his remaining dozen players.
Clear Lake is 0-7-1 in league and 0-9-1 overall.
Girls” soccer
Clear Lake at Fort Bragg, ppd.
At Fort Bragg, the Clear Lake Cardinals drove all the way to Fort Bragg and waited for 2 ? hours before their NCL I girls” soccer game with the host Timberwolves was postponed because officials failed to show up.
“That was our day,” Clear Lake coach Paul Larrea said.
Clear Lake (6-0-1, 11-2-2) was coming off a big 3-1 victory over Middletown on Tuesday, a win that moved the Cardinals into sole possession of first place atop the NCL I standings at the midway point of the league race.
Middletown 7, Lower Lake 1
At Lower Lake, the Middletown Mustangs bounced back from a 3-1 loss to Clear Lake with a victory over the Lower Lake Trojans.
Middletown imp-roved to 7-1 in the league standings and 11-2 overall. Lower Lake (0-8) did score in the second half when Patty Tuell put a shot into the net with an assist from Sam Lambert.
“They definitely played better this time,” Lower Lake coach Robynn Giese said of her team”s second league meeting with the Mustangs ? they lost the first one 17-0 on Sept. 13 in Middletown.
Standouts for the Trojans were forward Jenny Pena, keeper Laura Onate and fullback Sarah Fred, according to Giese.
Middletown scoring was not reported.
Willits 4, Kelseyville 0
At Willits, the Kelseyville Knights were shut out by the Willits Wolverines in NCL I action.
Willits led 2-0 after one half.
“Every time they play they get better,” Kelseyville coach Cheryl Mostin of the Knights. “We get better team play each time.”
Kelseyville is 1-7 in league and 1-8 overall.
Mostin gave high marks to the play of defender Emily Young, midfielder Jacklyn Bagleh and midfielder Alyssa Mick, who spent the first half icing her knee on the Kelseyville bench.
“She came in in the second half and gave us a spark,” Mostin said. “There was energy. We got a couple of good runs out of it.”
Mostin said Bagleh did a good job of pushing the ball to the team”s forwards while Young “worked her heart out” on defense.
“We”re still rough around on the edges but we”re getting there,” Mostin said.
Volleyball
Clear Lake def. Kelseyville
At Kelseyville, showing no letdown from a five-game win Tuesday night against St. Helena, the Clear Lake Cardinals, decked out in pink tights and tops, rolled past the Kelseyville Knights 25-14, 25-13, 25-7 during the annual “Play it in Pink” fundraiser for breast cancer research.
A pink volleyball also was used during the match.
Vanessa Tullos led the Cardinals with nine kills and 11 aces and also had five digs. Jessica Asbury added eight kills and three blocks while setter Morgan Psalmonds had 19 assists.
“I was kind of worried after the St. Helena match, but the girls still ripped it,” Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds said.
“Her team has really good unity,” Kelseyville coach Donelle McCallister said. “They are a good team. Our team needs to keep working hard in practice and improving.”
Clear Lake (5-1) remains atop the NCL I standings along with St. Helena (5-1). Kelseyville drops to 1-4.
According to McCallister, more than $2,000 was raised for breast cancer research by the two varsity and two junior varsity teams. “And we still haven”t totaled the gate, so it”s going to go up,” she said.
Kelseyville players wore pink T-shirts during the match.
Abby McQueen had four kills for the Knights while Jennifer Green and Jeannie Johnson each had three. Kyra Rudnick had three digs.
Lower Lake def. Willits
At Willits, bouncing back from an ugly road loss to Cloverdale, the Lower Lake Trojans beat the Willits Wolverines 23-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-10.
“We”re fighting our way back from what happened to us at Cloverdale,” Lower Lake coach Danessa Udy said. “We gave them the first game and we tried to give them the second game ? we had a 12-point lead early on. We started to look like our team again somewhere in the third game and we played fine after that.”
Adrina Miller powered Lower Lake with seven kills, three blocks and a team-high seven aces. Kelsie Shoffeitt had eight kills and four aces, Danacka Whittington added six kills and three aces, and setter Shadae White had six kills.
Lower Lake improved to 4-2 in the NCL I standings.
Cloverdale def. Middletown
At Middletown, the Cloverdale Eagles won their second straight NCL I match with a 25-21, 25-17, 25-18 victory over the Middletown Mustangs.
Cloverdale is 2-2 in league play while Middletown is 1-5.
Nika Gibbs had five kills and three blocks for Middletown and Aly Mino added six kills and one block.
Cheyenne Horvath”s play was another bright spot, according to coach Suzanne Riccio.
“She was very strong in the back row,” Riccio said of Horvath.
Upper Lake def. Roseland Prep
At Santa Rosa, the Upper Lake Cougars needed the minimum three games to beat Roslenad Prep 25-21, 25-11, 25-18 in non-league action.
Kat Edmonds” 13 kills sparked the Cougars while BobbieLynn Collins had eight kills and three blocks. Other standouts were Olivia Carter with six kills and four aces and Vanessa Hanson had a team-best five blocks.
“Our setters (Crystal Mendoza and Alicia Pearl) also played well and Ashley Lovin did a good job in the back row,” Upper Lake coach Sandy Coatney said. “She (Lovrin) had some beautiful saves.”
