KELSEYVILLE >> The Kelseyville Knights entered the season as the three-time defending North Central League I champions, but through their first three games of the 2017 league race they’ve yet to reach the win column.
Willits blanked Kelseyville 1-0 on Tuesday afternoon in Kelseyville, dropping the Knights to 0-2-1 in the league standings and 1-4-1 overall. While the Knights remain every bit the capable defensive club, they’ve lost the formidable scoring punch that carried them to NCL I titles in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Can they find it again this season?
“I think we’re going to have to live with it the whole season,” Kelseyville coach Eduardo Ledesma said of the Knights’ offensive shortcomings. “I tried to play the players the way I thought it would work, but they’re not getting it done. I’ve tried everything.”
Neither team had many scoring chances but the Wolverines converted their best opportunity in the second half to go up 1-0. The Knights had a chance to tie it late in regulation but couldn’t convert a penalty kick.
Sophomore Ryan Rigby’s play at right corner on defense sparked Kelseyville, according to Ledesma.
“That’s two games in a row he’s played well,” Ledesma said.
The Knights will try again for league win No. 1 on Thursday when they travel to Middletown for a 5:30 p.m. game against the Mustangs.
In other boys soccer action Tuesday:
Cloverdale 11, M’town 0
At Middletown, the Cloverdale Eagles rolled past a depleted Middletown Mustangs squad in NCL I action.
“Clearly we didn’t play as good as we wanted to,” Middletown coach Luis Chairez said. “We were hampered by some injuries and were short on the bench, which really showed near the end of the game.”
Cloverdale scored seven times in the second half to break the game wide open.
“Cloverdale has a really good team and they moved the ball really well,” Chairez said. “We’ll learn from this (loss) and move forward.”
Middletown hosts Kelseyville on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
Fort Bragg 3, Clear Lake 0
At Fort Bragg, the Fort Bragg Timberwolves scored two goals in the first five minutes and went on to shut out the Clear Lake Cardinals in NCL I action.
“They were still asleep,” Clear Lake coach Shaun Hornby said of the condition of his players following the long road trip to Fort Bragg. “It took us about 15 minutes to basically wake up.”
Clear Lake (1-2, 2-2) held the score at 2-0 through the first half and appeared to halve that deficit early in the second half but had a goal was disallowed because of an offsides call.
“A horrible call,” Hornby said. “He was 10 feet onsides at least. It (the goal) would have made a difference right there and allowed us to get back into the game.”
Fort Bragg picked up an insurance goal later in the half.
Clear Lake plays its third straight road game Thursday in Willits at 5:30 p.m.
Lower Lake 7, St. Helena 3
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans came out on fire in the first half and scored five times in a victory over the St. Helena Saints.
Lower Lake is now 3-0 in league play and 4-1 overall.
Scoring and other game details were not reported to the Record-Bee.
