MIDDLETOWN >> Sophie Kucer apparently likes the taste of home cooking. Her hat trick on Tuesday powered the Middletown Mustangs to a 4-0 victory over the Fort Bragg Timberwolves in the North Central League I opener for both of these girls soccer teams.
In her only other home match this season, that last week against St. Vincent, Kucer also scored three goals.
“Two home matches and two hat tricks,” said Middletown head coach Lamont Kucer. “We had lots of opportunities to score goals. We had 30 shots. We have to get a little better at finishing.”
Middletown, now 8-2 overall, built a 3-0 lead in the first half.
Fort Bragg’s physical play in the midfield didn’t do much to slow down Middletown midfielders Kucer, Julisa Garcia, Kassi Agapoff and Ellie Bazzano.
“They’re not afraid of contact,” Kucer said of his midfielders. “Fort Bragg’s strategy seemed to be to kick long through balls and hope to make something happen. They did get a couple behind us but Kelsey (Lemoine) did a great job running them down. She had to clean some things up.”
Agapoff scored Middletown’s other goal and she also had one of the team’s two assists. Bazzano had the other.
“It was our league opener and I’m happy to take that result,” Kucer said.
Middletown is gunning for an incredible 11th straight NCL I championship this season. The Mustangs are home again on Thursday to face Willits.
“We’re expecting a challenge,” Kucer said.
In other girls soccer action Tuesday:
Upper Lake 9, RCP 1
At Santa Rosa, freshman Karlee Zimmerschied scored three times and assisted on three other goals as the Upper Lake Cougars routed Roseland Collegiate Prep in NCL II action.
Katlyn Minnis, a senior, also had a hat trick for the Cougars, who improved to 2-0 in league play and 3-4 overall. Upper Lake’s other goals went to Atlantis Jones, Chelsea Hermoso and Anna Jordan, who scored on a penalty kick. Vanessa Loans Arrow joined Zimmerschied with three assists.
“It was nice seeing the girls relax and enjoy the game,” Upper Lake coach Daniella Santana said of the lopsided outscome.
Upper Lake led 3-0 after one half.
While the Cougars’ offense certainly carried the day, the defense allowed just five shots on goal.
“Our defense did awesome,” Santana said. “They (defenders) did a good job getting the ball up to the midfield and our forwards.”
Upper Lake hosts St. Vincent on Monday.
Lower Lake 3, Kelseyville 2
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first half and went on to edge the Kelseyville Knights in the NCL I opener for both teams.
“We can’t keep spotting teams a three-goal lead,” Kelseyville coach Eric Hoefler said. “We were abysmal in the first half.”
Kelseyville closed to 3-1 late in the first half on a Isabella Jimenz goal assisted by Paloma Ortiz. Cassidy Griffin scored on a penalty kick in the second half to make it 3-2, but the Knights were unable to score again.
“We had like 15 opportunities to tie it but we couldn’t find the back of the net,” Hoefler said.
Kelseyville is 1-4 overall.
“I’m still trying to figure out whose playing where,” Hoefler said.
The Knights are home Thursday to play Fort Bragg.
Lower Lake scoring was not reported.
