KELSEYVILLE >> Hey, what do you know? The third time really was the charm for the Kelseyville High School boys soccer team in the opening round of the 2016 North Coast Section Division I playoffs.
After a couple of heart-breaking losses in 2014 and 2015, the Knights finally provided head coach Eduardo Ledesma with his first postseason victory, a 5-2 win over Eureka on Wednesday night at Kelseyville High School. As a result, the Knights (12-4-3) advance to the quarterfinals on Saturday against No. 2 seed Lick-Wilmerding (18-2-1) of San Francisco. That game will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco.
“This is the playoffs, anything can happen,” Ledesma said of his team’s upcoming quarterfinal-round game.
Against Eureka, Anthony Panteleon’s goal 14 minutes into the second half snapped a 2-all first-half tie and put the Knights ahead to stay. Victor Cacho, the target of the Eureka defense all night long, scored Kelseyville’s fourth goal a few minutes later and Adrian Ruiz added an insurance goal later in the half to put the game out of reach.
“They did some research, they knew about him,” Ledesma said of Eureka’s targeting Cacho.
Cacho still finished with a goal and he assisted on three others.
Sergio Arias and Sal Barba scored in the first half for the Knights, who had their hands full with a quick-striking Eureka offense.
“They were coming at us so fast and the field didn’t help us,” Ledesma said.
The Knights opened the game on what Ledesma called the “worst side of the field,” the same side the Loggers were forced to deal with in the second half.
“I’m not sure if they got tired or it was the field,” Ledesma said of the Loggers offensive woes in the second half.
Standouts for the Kelseyville defense were center/defenders Pedro Hernandez and Sam Guzman, according to Ledesma, who said both played a fantastic game.
“They played with all of their heart out there,” Ledesma said. “They were tough.”
Kelseyville is the three-time defending North Central League I champion and No. 7 seed in the Division I field.
Lick-Wilmerding had a first-round bye on Wednesday.
After an 0-4 start to their season, the Knights are 12-0-3 in their last 15 games
If the Knights win on Saturday, they’ll advance to the semifinals next Wednesday against an opponent to be determined.
