ST. HELENA — Held scoreless in its last three trips to St. Helena, Middletown finally broke through on Thursday evening with a 3-1 victory over the Saints, a win that leaves the Mustangs alone atop the North Central League I girls soccer standings with a 4-0 record.
“We’re stoked,” said Lamont Kucer, who in three previous trips to St. Helena as Middletown’s head coach had watched the Mustangs tie the Saints 0-0 on two occasions (2016 and 2018) and lose 1-0 (2017).
In fact, Middletown hadn’t beaten the Saints (3-1) on their artificial turf home pitch since a 3-2 win in 2014 when Amy Emerson was the Mustangs’ head coach. Middletown lost 4-3 in 2015.
“It’s always been the toughest place we’ve ever had to play at,” Kucer said of the ultra-kick St. Helena field. “Now we control our own destiny (in the league standings).”
Middletown is gunning for a 12th straight league title.
The Mustangs shut out the Saints until midway through the second half when a penalty kick cut Middletown’s 2-0 halftime lead to 2-1.
“That fired them up,” Kucer said of the Saints.
Any thoughts of a St. Helena comeback ended a few minutes later when Brie Alves ripped a low liner into the left corner of the net.
“That gave us the breathing room we were looking for,” Kucer said.
Middletown’s first goal came on a Luana Gisler shot after teammate Sophie Kucer pounded a free kick from 35 yards out that just missed. Gisler alertly corralled the ball near the top of the box and rifled it into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. Kucer’s penalty kick later in the half made it 2-0.
Outstanding defense from center-backs Olivia Kucer and Abby Sabater kept the Saints in check most of the way.
“They played great today,” Kucer said.
Another standout was Nayla Chaires, who split time between forward and the midfield.
“She played the best game of her career,” Kucer said. “She had a great game … a great game.”
Middletown returns home Tuesday to play Lower Lake (2-2).
In other girls soccer action Thursday:
Lower Lake 3, Kelseyville 2
At Lower Lake, the Lower Lake Trojans scored three times in the first half, enough to hold off the Kelseyville Knights in NCL I action.
Lower Lake improves to 2-2 in league play with its second straight win and to 3-5 overall.
“We have a solid team this year,” Lower Lake coach Andrea Mahling said. “When they play together, they play really well together.”
Lower Lake led 3-1 at the half on the strength of goals by Kimberly Bautista, Lyzet Montanez and Melissa Mendez. Bautista and Kayla Zepada had assists.
“They were trapping the ball off of punts, goal kicks and corner kicks,” Mahling said. “We did a good job of kick-out-of-the-air control and we did a good job passing.”
Standouts included Anna Gutierrez and Margarita Cordova in the midfield, according to Mahling.
The Trojans travel to Middletown on Tuesday.
Cloverdale 7, Clear Lake 1
At Cloverdale, the Clear Lake Cardinals struggled on the road for the second straight game and fell to the Cloverdale Eagles in NCL I action.
Clear Lake (2-2, 6-4) dropped a 7-0 decision at Middletown on Tuesday.
Cloverdale led 4-0 at the half and held Clear Lake scoreless until Lexi Tejada punched in a shot two minutes into the second half.
“We had low energy to start,” Clear Lake coach Derick Fiske said. “The last 20 minutes of the first half and the first 15 of the second half we played well. Besides that, we slept walk a little.”
The Cardinals host Fort Bragg on Tuesday.
