LAKEPORT >> Kelseyville missed a penalty kick in stoppage time after Clear Lake’s Nicole Duncan scored with 10 minutes left in the second half to tie the score, resulting in a 3-3 draw in this back-and-forth North Central League I varsity girls’ soccer battle on Tuesday afternoon at Don Owens Stadium in Lakeport.
“I guess the soccer gods wanted a tie today,” Kelseyville coach Eric Hoefler said.
“It was a typical Clear Lake-Kelseyville game,” Clear Lake coach Paul Larrea said. “A lot of intensity and a lot of hard work.”
Kelseyville had a 2-0 lead just two minutes into the game and led 3-2 late in the second half only to watch Clear Lake rally.
“It was a good game by both teams,” Hoefler said.
Maria Verdugo and Megan Touros scored early for the Knights while Amelia Perry’s goal for the Cardinals right before halftime made it 2-1. After Clear Lake pulled even on a goal by Shyanne Chapin in the second half, Amanda Walsh gave Kelseyville its final lead, one that held up until Duncan scored.
“Records and all that other stuff go right out the window when these two teams play,” Larrea said. “This is a big game for both teams no mater what and for many of my players this was their first Kelseyville-Clear Lake game. Our inexperience early on hurt us, but if you throw out the first two minutes we played well.”
Hoefler gave high marks to the play of Verdugo and Walsh on offense, Caroline Contreras in the midfield and Sabrina LaCoy on defense.
Larrea was equally impressed with the play of Mina Werner, Clear Lake’s anchor on defense. Chapin, who didn’t start after missing two weeks with a shoulder injury, sparked the Cardinals once she stepped onto the field, according to Larrea.
“If she’s out there for those first two minutes, it might have been different,” he said.
Clear Lake is 2-1-3 in league play and 3-8-5 overall.
The Knights are home against Lower Lake on Thursday while Clear Lake hits the road to play league-leading Middletown.
