LAKEPORT >> The Clear Lake Cardinals Cardinals entered play Tuesday against the Middletown Mustangs looking for their first win since 2011. They finally got it.
Arturo Olmedo scored four times in the second half as the Cardinals overcame a 2-0 first-half deficit to beat Middletown 4-2 in a North Central League I boys” soccer game at Don Owens Stadium in Lakeport.
“It was an awesome game,” Clear Lake co-coach Tony Paskaly said. “I knew something was going to pop and today it did.”
Olmedo, who was ineligible to play most of the season for the Cardinals, has now scored in every game since his return — three straight — according to Paskaly.
Clear Lake opened the game in a 4-4-2 alignment but switched to a 5-4-1 in the second half in an attempt to generate more offense. The strategy worked as Olmedo broke loose. His first goal came on a penalty kick and his game-tying shot was from 20 yards out. He then put the Cardinals ahead 3-2 with a shot from 30 yards out, according to Paskaly.
The Cardinals improved to 1-12 in league and 1-14 overall while Middletown fell to 4-9 and 4-11.
Girls” soccer
Lower Lake 1, Kelseyville 0
At Kelseyville, Lower Lake”s Valerie Matheny scored a goal in the first half and made it stand up as the Trojans won their first NCL I game by shutting out the punchless Knights.
“Our defense is our shining armor this season,” Kelseyville coach Dave Wold said. “I just don”t have that speed and big boom up front. We played well, we had 25 shots on goal and they maybe had 10, but we just couldn”t get the ball past their keeper.”
Added Wold, “Their keeper did a good job.”
“Kelseyville did push hard for a goal, especially near the end of the game, but out defensive line held strong,” Lower Lake coach Kali Begley said. “They have been working very hard all season for a win; they definitely deserved it.”
Lower Lake (1-11-1, 2-11-1) scored about 25 minutes in the game, according to Wold.
Kelseyville is now 1-10-2 in league and 5-11-2 overall. Both teams close out their season on Thursday — Kelseyville at Willits and Lower Lake at home against league champion Middletown.
Clear Lake 1, Middletown 0
At Lakeport, Hannah Norwood scored with an assist from Jordan Chapin with 30 seconds left in the first half and the Clear Lake Cardinals made that lone goal stand up while beating league champion Middletown and handing the Mustangs (10-1-2, 13-2-3) their first league loss of the season.
Clear Lake improved to 8-3-2 in the league standings and 14-5-3 overall.
“Clear Lake was ready for us, ready to beat us and super excited when they did,” Middletown coach Amy Emerson said.
“This has become a big rivalry for us, bigger than Clear Lake-Kelseyville,” Clear Lake coach Paul Larrea said. “I thought the officials did a good job.”
For his team”s seniors, Larrea said this was the first time in eight league meetings they had beaten Middletown.
“They were pretty excited,” Larrea said.
After taking the lead, the Cardinals moved players back on defense to make it as tough for the Mustangs as possible, and the strategy worked.
“I don”t blame them,” Emerson said. “I would have done the same thing.”
Clear Lake keeper Rory Ottolini turned back a handful of shots to keep Middletown off the scoreboard.
“Best game she”s played for us,” Larrea said. “She played lights out.”
Other Clear Lake standouts were Taylor Helms and Madison Wynacht, who were able to clear the ball out of the Cardinals” end of the field to give the defense a break in the second half.
“They helped take the pressure off the defense,” Larrea said. “When we needed a break, they were able to clear the ball.”
Both teams wrap up their league and regular-season schedules Thursday. Middletown plays at Lower Lake while Clear Lake hosts Fort Bragg.
Volleyball
St. Helena def. Clear Lake
At Lakeport, the Clear Lake Cardinals started well, winning the first set 25-23, but undefeated league leader St.Helena came back to beat the Cardinals 23-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-18 in NCL I action.
St. Helena (11-0) can clinch no worse than a tie for the league championship with a victory on Thursday at Fort Bragg.
Clear Lake (6-5) hung tough with the powerful Saints but couldn”t quite get over the hump.
“They played together good as a team tonight,” Clear Lake coach Marci Psalmonds said. “We just had errors at the wrong times ? we clustered them together.”
Aliza Atkins and Terra Morin led the Cardinals — Atkins on offense with eight kills, six blocks and three aces, and Morin on defense with 12 digs.
“She had a good night,” Psalmonds said of Atkins, who also had seven digs. “Terra played good defense tonight. She was aggressive.”
Rachel Wingler added five kills and one ace.
In the junior varsity match, Clear Lake beat St. Helena 25-12, 25-18 behind four kills and one ace apiece from Courtney Hiatt and Camille Donald.
Upper Lake def. Sonoma Academy
At Upper Lake, the Upper Lake Cougars celebrated senior night in style, rallying past Sonoma Academy 13-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-17 in NCL II action.
Playing their final home match of the regular season, the Cougars notched their fourth straight league win behind the play of Heather Hankins (18 service points, seven aces, 18 assists), Jojo Augustine (eight kills, four aces, seven digs) and LaShaye Taylor (seven kills, three aces, 10 digs).
“We played very well and played together,” Upper Lake coach Raelene Cromwell said. “We helped one another all night.”
Upper Lake”s JV squad remained undefeated in league play with a 25-15, 25-16 victory over Sonoma Academy. Cristina Wilson had eight points and six aces, Natalie Karlsson added five points, four aces and four kills, and Isabel Rorabaugh had 10 points, seven aces and one kill.
Cloverdale def. Lower Lake
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans gave Cloverdale a battle, but the Eagles came out on top, 26-24, 26-28, 25-21, 25-19, in NCL I action.
“We played a lot better tonight but we couldn”t finish,” Lower Lake coach Darcie Schmidt said.
Lower Lake”s setter, Bailey DeLong, turned in a solid effort with 16 assists. Ashlynn Mock led the Trojans (2-9) with 11 kills, Brooke Taliaferro had nine kills, and Shelbie Harris added three kills and four aces.
Cloverdale won the JV match 25-23, 22-25, 15-7.
