MIDDLETOWN >> The Middletown Mustangs can hear a 10th straight league title knockin’ at the door after beating the St. Helena Saints 2-0 in a North Central League I girls soccer showdown on Thursday afternoon in Middletown.
Both teams entered play undefeated in the league standings at 5-0, but Middletown (6-0, 11-2-2) now holds a one-game lead over St. Helena (5-1) as the halfway point of the NCL I season approaches. While there’s still a long way to go, the Mustangs now hold some serious leverage over the Saints. The teams meet again Oct. 24 in St. Helena.
“The girls were really pumped up,” Middletown coach Lamont Kucer said. “They were looking forward to this game.”
And that includes freshman Sophie Kucer, daughter of the coach. She sustained a right wrist injury on Tuesday late in the Mustangs’ 4-0 win over Clear Lake at Lakeport. Her availability for Thursday’s game was in doubt.
“We thought it (the wrist) was broken at first,” Lamont Kucer said.
Sophie’s wrist was placed in a sprint, wrapped with an ace bandage and taped tightly so that she could participate against St. Helena.
“She said she was able to play although she had some pain,” Kucer said.
Kucer ended up assisting on the first score of the game, feeding teammate Brie Alves for a goal that put the Mustangs ahead to stay at 1-0. Later in the first half Aly Ferguson came up with the shot of the game and perhaps the season to date for Middletown.
“Aly was to the left of the box and their keeper came out to the top of the box,” Kucer said. Aly hit a high shot over her head, a beautiful shot. It was perfectly placed and there was nothing the keeper could do.”
Middletown’s midfield and defense took it from there, shutting down the Saints.
“Gracie Armstrong, our center, played great,” Kucer said. “Anything that got by her Kelsey Lemoine chased down. Our midfielders, Sophie and Kassi Agapoff, controlled the middle.”
Kucer had nothing but praise for St. Helena.
“They didn’t lay down in the second half,” he said. “They pushed us hard for the first 10 minutes. It was all we could do to stop them. They’ve got a good team.”
If there’s a weakness for the Saints, Kucer said it’s their roster size.
“They had only one reserve,” he said.
Middletown closes out the first half of league play Tuesday in Lower Lake.
“We have to hold serve now,” Kucer said of the Mustangs’ one-game lead in the standings.
Clear Lake 3, Kelseyville 0
At Kelseyville, Nicole Duncan scored two goals and had an assist as the Clear Lake Cardinals shut out the Kelseyville Knights in NCL I action.
Kortnie Reynolds also scored for the Cardinals, now 3-2 in league play and 6-5 overall. Mavis Pyorre and Lexi Burke added assists.
Kelseyville drops to 2-4 in league play and 3-6 overall.
