LOWER LAKE >> Lower Lake was about to knock the Kelseyville Knights from the ranks of the unbeaten in the North Central League I boys’ soccer standings when Sergio Arias came to the rescue on Thursday evening in Lower Lake.
With only seconds to play in stoppage time, Arias scored on a free kick to lift the Knights into a 2-2 tie with the Trojans.
“We made a little mistake and he scored,” Lower Lake coach Javier Michel said of Arias’ game-tying shot. “A couple of sedons after he scored, the game was over.”
Lower Lake (4-1-3) could have pulled within a half-game of Kelseyville (6-0-2) in the standings with a victory. The tie will keep the Trojans 11/2 games back with six remaining for both teams. Kelseyville and Lower Lake also played to a 4-4 tie last month in Kelseyville, the league opener for both teams.
Lower Lake led 1-0 after the first half on a goal by Jose Carlos Martinez. After Kelseyville tied the game at 1-1 in the second half on a Victor Cacho goal assisted by Trey Conrad, Oscar Martinez put the Trojans back in front with a free kick.
Kelseyville coach Eduardo Ledesma said the Knights had numerous opportunities to score. They had eight corner kicks to Lower Lake’s one and ended up outshooting the Trojans 25-4.
“They played really good,” Ledesma said of the Trojans, the only team in the league that hasn’t lost to the two-time defending champions this season.
Lower Lake returns to action Tuesday afternoon in Middletown while Kelseyville hosts Willits. Both games begin at 4 p.m.
