KELSEYVILLE >> Megan Touros collected another hat trick as the Kelseyville Knights beat the Fort Bragg Timberwolves 3-1 in North Central League I girls’ soccer action on Thursday afternoon in Kelseyville.
Kelseyville, now 5-3-3 in league, is not only gunning for a winning record in the NCL I standings, but its first postseason berth in a decade, according to coach Eric Hoefler.
“We’re rolling,” Hoefler said.
Using a formula that has worked well for the team throughout league play, Hoefler shifted Touros, who scored three times in the first half to give the Knights a 3-0 lead, back to sweeper in the second half.
“Our twin sweepers stopped them (Timberwolves) cold,” Hoefler said of Touros and Caroline Contreras, an All-Leaguer for the Knights in 2014. “Those two are lights out.”
Fort Bragg was able to get one goal in the second half but nothing else.
Maria Verdugo and Christine Covarrubias had assists for the Knights, who return to action Tuesday in Middletown.
In other girls’ soccer action Thursday:
Clear Lake 4, Lower Lake 0
At Lower Lake, the Clear Lake Cardinals moved back to the .500 mark in league play by shutting out the Lower Lake Trojans.
Clear Lake improved to 4-4-3 behind four goals by Mina Werner, who has seven in her last two games. Lexi Burke assisted on two of Werner’s scores and Amelia Perry and Shyanne Chapin also had assists.
“We’ve moved her from defense to forward,” Clear Lake coach Paul Larrea said of Werner, who has sparked the Clear Lake offense of late. “She took nine shots and had four goals.”
The Cardinals also received solid play in the midfield from freshman Kortney Reynolds, according to Larrea.
“Her playing better has allowed us to move people around,” Larrea said.
Clear Lake led 1-0 at halftime.
Boys’ soccer
K’ville 4, Fort Bragg 2
At Kelseyville, trailing 1-0 at halftime, the Kelseyville Knights scored four second-half goals to beat the Fort Bragg Timberwolves and move within a win of clinching a second straight NCL I championship.
Kelseyville (8-1-1 league, 10-1-2) plays two road games next week – at Middletown on Tuesday and at Lower Lake on Thursday. A win in either of those two games gives the Knights the undisputed league title. They need at least a draw in their final two games to earn no worse than a tie in the standings.
Playing their final home game of the season, the Knights found themselves in a 1-0 halftime hole.
“We were kind of passing like we did in our last game … pretty bad,” Kelseyville coach Eduardo Ledesma said. “I told them that we’ve gotta pick up our passing and do a better job in the second half. They did.”
Victor Cacho tied the game 68 seconds into the second half and Giovanni Ruiz scored in the 14th minute of the second half, taking a corner kick from Cacho, to put Kelseyville ahead to stay. Erminio Mendez made it 3-1 with a goal in the 21st minute.
Fort Bragg closed to 3-2 before Cacho’s second goal of the game, in the 39th minute, pushed Kelseyville’s lead to 4-2.
Volleyball
Cloverdale def. Clear Lake
At Cloverdale, the Clear Lake Cardinals tried to rally after dropping the first two sets but the host Eagles won 25-18, 25-16, 16-25, 29-27.
Clear Lake (6-3) received another strong performance from Maddie West, who had 11 kills and two blocks. Other Cardinal standouts were Emily Psalmonds with 31 assists and 11 digs and Jazzy Rice with four kills and 12 digs.
Cloverdale is 5-5 in league play.
In JV action, Clear Lake improved to 9-0 with a 25-9, 25-19 victory. Corin Alakszay led the Cardinals with seven kills.
M’town def. Willits
At Willits, Middletown took care of business, beating the Willits Wolverines 25-11, 25-15, 25-16 in NCL I action. Abby Aden, Emily Lescher and Jess DeSilva had four kills apiece for the Mustangs (5-3). Lescher also had two blocks and three aces. Meghan Carlisle led the team with seven aces and added two kills.
Middletown’s JVs won their first league match and first match since the Valley Fire broke out last month 18-25, 25-14, 15-12. Cheyanne Justice led the Mustangs with four kills, five blocks and one ace, Amy Hermann added three kills, two blocks and two aces, and Yasi Heidary had six assists.
“They are a hard working group,” Middletown coach Vanessa Davis said.
Upper Lake def. Tech
At Rohnert Park, Brenna Sanchez registered a team-best nine kills to power Upper Lake to a 25-21, 25-15, 26-24 victory over Tech in NCL II action.
Natalie Karlsson added five kills, 20 assists, five digs, eight service points and two aces in the win. Christina Wilson had four kills, 14 digs, 15 points and two aces.
