WILLITS >> The Kelseyville Knights needed a tie or a win against Willits to clinch the undisputed North Central League I boys” soccer championship on Thursday in Willits and they came through with a 1-1 draw as Pedro Garcia scored midway through the second half.
“I was nervous, I was shaking,” Kelseyville coach Eduardo Ledesma said. “I”ve never been more nervous for a game than I was today.”
It”s Ledesma”s first championship at Kelseyville.
“It feels great,” he said.
Willits scored early in the first half to go up 1-0 and that”s where the score remained until Garcia got a rebound off the Willits goalie and kicked the ball into the net.
Sweeper Omar Rodriguez anchored the Kelseyville defense, according to Ledesma.
The Knights, who will participate in next week”s North Coast Section playoffs, finish league play at 9-1-4. Fort Bragg finished just a half-game behind at 10-3-1. Overall for the regular season Kelseyville was 12-2-4.
Kelseyville beat Willits 1-0 earlier this month in Kelseyville.
One thing that didn”t help either team in the rematch on Thursday was the Willits field.
“It was horrible,” Ledesma said. “It was a cow pasture.”
The Knights will learn on Sunday where they are seeded and who they”ll face in the opening round of the playoffs.
