LOWER LAKE — St. Helena scored back-to-back goals during a five-minute stretch in the second half and went on to beat the Lower Lake Trojans 4-3 in North Central League I girls soccer action on Thursday afternoon in Lower Lake.
Lower Lake (5-3-1 league, 6-3-1 overall) was trying to hand St. Helena (7-0-3) its first league loss. The Trojans opened up a 2-1 halftime lead on the strength of goals by Fabiola Santana and Anahi Robles, but St. Helena scored three unanswered goals to open the second half yo take a 4-2 lead.
“Our defense fell asleep for about five to six minutes in the second half and they scored back-to-back goals to take the lead,” Lower Lake head coach Andrea Mahling said.
Santana scored her second goal of the game late in the second half to cut St. Helena’s lead to 4-3, but the Saints were able to hold on for the hard-fought victory.
“Our defense was tough except for a few minutes in the second half,” Mahling said. “We’re disappointed we didn’t pull out at least a tie in the end, but overall the girls played a great game.”
Robles and Michaela Stone had assists for the Trojans, who hit the road Tuesday to play Cloverdale.
In other girls soccer action Thursday:
Middletown 3, Cloverdale 0
At Middletown, the Middletown Mustangs maintained their one-game lead over St. Helena in the NCL I standings by shutting out the Cloverdale Eagles.
Middletown (9-0-1, 16-2-2) scored twice in the first half on a pair of Sophie Kucer goals and Alyssa Terry added an insurance goal in the second half to seal the victory.
The difference in the game, according to Middletown head coach Lamont Kucer, was the play of his midfield.
“Our midfield players were really strong the whole first half,” Kucer said of Sophie Kucer, Ellie Bazzano, Julisa Garcia and Paige Astley. “They were controlling the ball and keeping the ball away from their best player. We were minimizing their possessions and threats.”
Cloverdale went on the attack for the first 15 minutes of the second half before Middletown regained the momentum.
“We took control again and when Alyssa scored her goal, that broke their spirit,” Kucer said.
With four matches remaining, one of them against St. Helena, Middletown’s destiny is in its own hands, according to Kucer.
“We just need to take care of business the next four games,” he said. “We’re in a good spot.”
Maddie Ferguson assists on two of Middletown’s goals.
Middletown is home on Tuesday to play Kelseyville.
Fort Bragg 6, Clear Lake 3
At Lakeport, Kortnie Reynolds scored once in each half, the second goal coming on a corner kick that curled into the net, but the Clear Lake Cardinals couldn’t break through with their first league win of the season as they fell to the Fort Bragg Timberwolves.
In an attempt to spark Clear Lake’s offense, head coach Annie Zombil shuffled the lineup and moved Reynolds to forward.
“She played really hard and did a good job,” Zombil said.
Riana Kniss also was moved up front and she scored her first goal of the season.
Another standout for the Cardinals was Angelica Garnica in the midfield.
“She did a wonderful job,” Zombil said.
Clear Lake went into halftime tied 2-2 but Fort Bragg broke the game open with four second-half goals.
The Cardinals (0-10, 1-14) are back in action Tuesday in Willits.
RUP 4, Upper Lake 1
At Santa Rosa, Roseland University Prep beat Upper Lake in NCL III action, the Cougars’ third league loss this week.
“I think we should have been a little bit better than we were,” Upper Lake head coach Daniella Santana said. “We were not getting to the ball as well as we should have.”
The combination of a physical game against Roseland University Prep and playing their third game in four days took a toll on the Cougars, according to Santana.
“I think it was a little of both,” she said.
Roseland University Prep led 3-0 after the first half. Upper Lake scored in the second half on a Karlee Zimmerschied goal. Joslyn Huntley assisted on Zimmerschied’s goal.
Standouts for the Cougars were Angel O’Sullivan, Christiana Roberts and Vanessa Loans Arrow, according to Santana.
“They defended on the ball very well,” Santana said.
Upper Lake is 5-5 in league and 6-9 overall.
