WILLITS — Even with three starters sitting out the game with injuries and several other players less than 100 percent because of illness, the Middletown Mustangs closed out a perfect first half with a 6-2 victory over the Willits Wolverines in North Central League I girls soccer action on Tuesday in Willits, setting the stage for a big game Thursday when they open second-half play in Cloverdale.
If the Mustangs (7-0 league, 11-3-1 overall) beat Cloverdale (5-1), they’ll own no worse than a two-game lead in the NCL I standings and be well on their way to an incredible 12th straight league title, and the fourth in a row for current head coach Lamont Kucer.
Middletown beat Cloverdale 5-0 back on Sept. 10 in Middletown.
“We are a little depleted right now and it shows,” Kucer said. “It was a win even if it wasn’t a real pretty one. A win is a win in the end.”
Missing the game with injuries were keeper Leslie Chairez and defenders Zamora Rogers and Abby Sabater. Chairez is probable for the Cloverdale game while both Rogers and Sabeter are questionable, according to Kucer.
“They’re a tough team,” Kucer said of the Eagles. “They’ve beaten everybody except us and I’m sure sure they’re going to come out swinging.”
Harper Moreno and Kamilah Chairez, Leslie’s younger sister, took turns in the goal while Ellary Isherwood split time between offense (first half) and defense (second half).
“It’s the first time we’ve played her back there,” Kucer said of Isherwood’s time on defense. “We haven’t even practiced with her back there. She did a great job.”
Paige Astley was another defensive standout in the win, according to Kucer, who said he also was impressed with Kamilah Chairez’s time at keeper. “She had her sister coaching her,” Kucer said.
Middletown received goals from five different players, including two from Sophie Kucer. Isherwood, Brie Alves, Emily Maccario and Georgia Guerrero also scored. Assists went to Kucer, who had three, Moreno, Astley and Luana Gisler.
In other girls soccer action Tuesday:
St. Helena 4, Clear Lake 0
At St. Helena, the Clear Lake Cardinals closed out the first half of their league schedule with a shutout loss to the St. Helena Saints (5-2).
“We played with a lot of heart today, but we couldn’t get the ball into the net, unfortunately,” Clear Lake coach Derick Fiske said.
The Cardinals (4-3, 8-5) trailed 3-0 at halftime. It was a 1-0 game until late in the first half when the Saints scored twice in a four-minute stretch to take control.
“That kind of shot us,” Fiske said.
Clear Lake threw several different defensive looks at St. Helena, including using season scoring leader Lexi Tejada on defense.
“The defense actually played pretty well,” Fiske said. “We held them to just the one goal in the second half.”
Clear Lake keeper Trinity Jardstrom was under constant pressure from St. Helena’s attacks, according to Fiske.
“One of the best 4-0 losses I’ve seen a goalie play,” Fiske said. “She played her heart out.”
Clear Lake opens the second half of league play Thursday in Lower Lake at 5:45 p.m.
Fort Bragg 4, Lower Lake 1
At Fort Bragg, Lower Lake briefly tied the game at 1-1 on a Melissa Mendez goal in the first half, but the Fort Bragg Timberwolves shut out the Trojans the rest of the way.
“It seemed like we kept the ball on their side a good amount of time, the difference was our shots weren’t going in,” Lower Lake coach Andrea Mahling said.
Fort Bragg took a 2-1 lead on a penalty kick right before halftime. The Timberwolves added two insurance goals in the second half.
Mahling said the Trojans (2-5, 3-8) received solid midfield play from Mendez, Anna Gutierrez and Jaqueline Galvan.
Lyzet Montanez picked up an assist on teammate Mendez’s goal.
The Trojans open the second half of their league schedule Thursday at home against Clear Lake at 5:45 p.m.
