MIDDLETOWN — Hannah Diaz scored four times and Kaleigh Alves added her own hat trick as the Middletown Mustangs blasted Fort Bragg 8-1 in a North Central League I varsity girls” soccer game on Thursday afternoon in Middletown.
The Mustangs (2-0 league, 5-1 overall) led 5-1 after one half.
“We were a little more organized on defense, which was nice to see,” Middletown coach Louise Owens said. “I think we”re starting to figure out where everyone is supposed to go.”
Kaitlyn Munch played keeper in the second half and stopped a Fort Bragg penalty kick.
“That was a big confidence boost for her,” Owens said.
Caitlin Lemoine had the other goal for the Mustangs, winners of four straight. Ashley Hart registered three assists and Diaz had another.
In other girls” soccer action Thursday:
St. Helena 7, Lower Lake 0
At Lower Lake, the St. Helena Saints shut out the Lower Lake in NCL I action. Lower Lake (0-2, 1-2) has been outscored 11-0 in its first two league games following a 4-0 setback to Fort Bragg on Tuesday.
Gabby Jauregui turned in a solid effort at sweeper and later forward for the Trojans, according to coach Robynn Giese. Jenny Tena was another standout.
Cloverdale 6, Kelseyville 1
At Cloverdale, Megan Touros scored on a penalty kick in the second half, Kelseyville”s lone goal in a league loss to the Cloverdale Eagles.
Cloverdale led 3-0 at the half.
Kelseyville is 0-2 in league play.
Boys” soccer
Lower Lake 4, St. Helena 1
At Lower Lake, switching to a two-forward offense (Luis Ruiz and David Fernandez) with Mauricio Jauregui backing them up in the midfield put the spark in Lower Lake”s attack and the Trojans used a four-goal second half to beat the St. Helena Saints in league action.
“That triangle of players did the trick,” Lower Lake coach Dan Griffin said. “Everything clicked … the chemistry was there.”
Following a scoreless first half, Luis Ruiz broke the tie with a left-footed shot set up by back-to-back passes from Jose Galvan and Fernandez. Fernandez scored a few minutes later with an assist from Mauricio Jauregui to make it 2-0.
After St. Helena closed to 2-1, the Saints knocked another ball into the net only to have the goal disallowed on a controversial offsides call, according to Griffin. “From where I was at it looked pretty good.”
Ruiz scored a short time later to make it 3-1 and Fernandez followed with what appeared to be the Trojans” fourth goal of the day on a header only to have the shot waved off.
“The official said he (Fernandez) made contact with the keeper,” Griffin said.
Lower Lake scored a few minutes later when Luis Trejo knocked in a direct kick from 35 yards out.
Ricardo Manriquez anchored the Lower Lake defense from his center-stopper position, according to Griffin.
“He always seems to be in the right spot for us,” Griffin said.
Lower Lake is 1-1 in league and 2-4 overall.
Fort Bragg 7, Middletown 2
At Middletown, locked in a defensive struggle through one half, the Middletown Mustangs watched the Fort Bragg Timberwolves pull away in the second half of their NCL I boys” soccer game.
“I was feeling pretty good at halftime,” Middletown coach Chuck Rannells said of the 1-1 score.
But it was all Timberwolves once the second half got underway.
“I really don”t have an answer,” Rannells said. “We didn”t seem to have the spark that we did in the first half. The intensity wasn”t there.”
Jorge Morales scored in the first half for Middletown (0-2, 2-3) and Ricardo Chaires scored in the second half. Morales and Brandon Rannells had assists.
Kelseyville 1, Cloverdale 1 (tie)
At Kelseyville, Kelseyville keeper Jonathan Villareal blocked a penalty kick in the final minute to preserve Kelseyville”s 1-1 league tie with the Cloverdale Eagles, a game that truly felt like a win for the Knights and coach Eduardo Ledesma considering the way it ended.
“He saved the game for us,” Ledesma said of Villareal”s diving PK save. “He saved us from a loss.”
Cristian Macias scored in the first half for Kelseyville. It remained 1-0 until Cloverdale scored early in the second half.
Cloverdale received one yellow card and one red card in the physical battle while Kelseyville had one yellow card.
“They played tough, they played really tough,” Ledesma said of the Eagles.
Willits 5, Clear Lake 1
At Lakeport, playing their first home league game of the season, the Clear Lake Cardinals fell to the Willits Wolverines.
Clear Lake”s lone goal was a left-footed shot by Luis Muniz in the second half.
Several Cardinals missed the game because of sickness and another, star forward Juan Mendoza, played with a 102-degree fever.
Standouts for the Cardinals (0-2, 0-4) on defense were Esteban Sturr and Joey Sainsbury, according to Clear Lake coach Tony Paskaly.
Volleyball
Anderson Valley def. Clear Lake
At Boonville, Anderson Valley swept the Clear Lake 25-13, 25-16, 25-18 in non-league varsity volleyball action despite a big night from the Cardinals” middle hitter, Aliza Atkins, who had a team-best 15 kills and eight digs. Rachel Wingler added nine kills, Logan Robinson had 18 digs and three kills, and setter Emily Psalmonds recorded 24 assists.
Anderson Valley won the JV match 25-11, 23-25, 15-8. Courtney Hiatt, Terra Morin and Jazmine Rice had three kills apiece for Clear Lake. Samantha Morfin added six assists.
Clear Lake”s varsity travels north to McKinleyville today.
