LAKEPORT >> As the old Timex watch commercial used to say, the Cardinals took a licking and kept on ticking Thursday afternoon while dealing the Fort Bragg Timberwolves a 3-2 loss in North Central League I girls” soccer action at Don Owens Stadium in Lakeport.
In a game that was part soccer, part football and part roller derby, the Cardinals (9-3-2 league, 15-5-3 overall) withstood a series of minor injuries in the second half to hold off the Timberwolves in the league and regular-season finale for both teams.
“I didn”t know if I was going to have any players left,” Clear Lake coach Paul Larrea said when asked about Fort Bragg”s in-your-face style of play. “I knew it was going to be physical but I didn”t expect it to be that physical.”
Outside of Clear Lake keeper Rory Ottolini, who made several hard saves in the second half as Fort Bragg, down 3-0 at the half, chipped away at Clear Lake”s lead, Larrea said eight of his other 10 starters were hurt to varying degrees during the game”s final 40 minutes.
“We had a planned day off tomorrow (for Halloween) and it”s a good thing because we wouldn”t be able to practice,” Larrea said.
Hannah Norwood, who hit the turf hard in the second half after making contact with a Fort Bragg player, figured in all of Clear Lake”s scoring with two goals and an assist on Taylor Helms” goal.
“Hannah did a great job,” Larrea said.
So did Madison Wynacht, who rallied the Cardinals on the field by moving players back to defense or up to offense depending on the situation.
“She showed great leadership out there,” Larrea said.
While Fort Bragg made a game of it in the second half, the first half belonged entirely to Clear Lake.
“We played probably as well in the first half as we did in the game against Middletown (a 1-0 win on Tuesday in Lakeport),” Larrea said. “We controlled the ball very well and spent nearly the entire half on their side of the field. We only allowed three shots.”
Ottolni and Emily Hayes anchored the defense.
“She”s coming into her own,” Larrea said of Ottolini. “For a first-year goalie it”s pretty remarkable what she”s done.
“And Emily always does something to help us,” Larrea said. “Today we needed her on defense and she did a great job.”
The Cardinals end up tied with St. Helena for second place in the league standings behind champion Middletown. They”ll learn on Sunday where they”ve been seeded in the North Coast Section playoffs, which begin on Wednesday.
