SANTA ROSA >> The Middletown Mustangs are loaded with returning talent again this season and they gave notice on Tuesday that they are in the running for an eighth straight North Central League I title and playoff appearance.
Behind two goals and two assists from Caitlin Lemoine and single goals from Kaleigh Alves, Madison Ketchum and Rosie Emerson, the Mustangs opened their 2015 schedule with a 5-0 victory over Roseland Prep at Santa Rosa.
“Every single girl had a case of first-game jitters,” Middletown coach Amy Emerson said. “We were really pumped up, ready to go.”
In fact, the Mustangs were playing “too fast,” according to Emerson, and were called for offsides nine times. Once they settled into their offense, they dominated against a Roseland Prep squad that had the minimum 11 players to open the game and finished with only nine because of injuries.
“After we went up 5-0 (in the second half), I pulled almost all of my starters and let the rookies play (the final 30 minutes),” Emerson said.
Middletown led 3-0 after one half.
Emerson had high praise for the overall play of sophomore Courtney Gillies.
“She worked really hard all summer to improve her game,” Emerson said.
The Mustangs went 15-3-3 a year ago, Emerson’s first season as varsity coach.
In other action Tuesday:
Volleyball
Kelseyville def. Piner
At Santa Rosa, freshman Payton Conrad’s high school and varsity debut produced five digs and five aces as the Kelseyville Knights beat the Piner Prospectors 25-11, 25-10, 25-17 behind a 21-ace attack.
Outside hitter Lauren Rudnick added five digs and six aces while outside hitter Carli Mendonca had a team-best five kills on only eight arm swings.
While happy to win her first match of the season, Kelseyville coach Donelle McCallister said the Knights still have a long way to go.
“They have some work to do,” McCallister said.
Kelseyville also won the junior varsity match 25-19, 25-14.
Anderson Valley def. Upper Lake
At Upper Lake, small school powerhouse Anderson Valley of Boonville swept away Upper Lake in the Cougars’ season and home opener, winning 25-14, 25-12, 25-19.
Isabel Rorabaugh had five kills, four digs and two aces for the Cougars while Christina Wilson added four kills and 21 digs and Natalie Karlsson had eight assists, eight digs and three aces.
Anderson Valley also rallied to win the JV match, 19-25, 25-11, 15-4. For the Cougars, Ashley Aceves had three kills and four aces while Adrianna Saldana added three kills and two aces.
Lower Lake def. El Molino
At Lower Lake, El Molino spoiled Lower Lake’s season opener with a 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 win.
“Honestly I’m very pleased with the way we played,” Lower Lake coach Darcie Schmidt said. “El Molino had an amazing libero who dug up everything we hit.”
Brooke Taliaferro’s hitting up front and the serving of Ashlynn Mock were highlights for the Trojans, according to Schmidt, who was unable to provide statistics because of a scorebook foul-up.
“Actually the whole team served well,” Schmidt said. “I don’t think we missed a serve.”
Boys’ soccer
Kelseyville 2, Anderson Valley 2 (tie)
At Boonvile, a team that has absolutely tortured the Kelseyville Knights in seasons past could only manage a tie with coach Eduardo Ledesma’s club this time around.
Behind golas from Ricardo Covarrubias and Victor Cacho, the Knights battled the Panthers to a draw in the season opener for both teams.
“I’m happy with that,” Ledesma said of his team’s performance and the outcome. “They always beat us.”
Kelseyville, the defending North Central League I champion, returns nearly its entire 2014 team this season.
“We lost only two starters,” Ledesma said. “We have basically the same team back.”
Cacho, Elias Alvarez and new keeper Francisco Duarte all logged solid performances, according to Ledesma.
JV girls’ soccer
Clear Lake 2, Anderson Valley 2 (tie)
At Lakeport, Kortnie Reynolds scored in the first half and Yuliana Sonato added a goal in the second half as the Clear Lake JV girls battled the Anderson Valley varsity to a tie in non-league action.
Defensive standouts for the Cardinals were Victoria Donnelly (center) and Nicole Oleson (fullback), according to coach Tommy Burke.
