LAKEPORT — The Clear Lake Cardinals are nearly through with their 2019 boys soccer season and are still looking for break No. 1, according to head coach Shaun Hornby. They didn’t get it on Tuesday, losing a 5-4 heartbreaker to the Cloverdale Eagles in North Central League I action at Don Owens Stadium in Lakeport.
“The headline for this one should read, ‘Does Clear Lake ever get any (good) luck,’” Hornby said. “We hit the post, we hit the crossbar twice. In the last five minutes we took shot after shot. We had them on the ropes. I’ve never known a season like it where we never get any breaks.”
The last shot of the game was more of the same for the Cardinals (1-9 league, 5-9-2 overall).
“(Ulices) Valencia just missed a bicycle kick (off a corner kick) in front of their goal,” Hornby said.
The two teams put on a show in the first half, combining for seven goals as Cloverdale opened up a 4-3 halftime lead. The Eagles scored first in the second half to make it 5-3. Valencia’s third goal of the game cut it to 5-4 with 20 minutes remaining.
“The last 20 minutes was all us,” Hornby said. “Cloverdale was holding on.”
Jose Rodriguez also scored for the Cardinals. Bryan Jimenez and Victor Romero had assists.
“The guys played out of their skin, but there were a lot of heads buried low after the game,” said an exhausted Hornby. “I’m absolutely gutted.”
Clear Lake travels to Fort Bragg on Thursday.
In other boys soccer action Tuesday:
Lower Lake 1, Kelseyville 1 (tie)
At Kelseyville, Angelo Pelcastre’s penalty kick late in the second half lifted the Lower Lake Trojans into a 1-1 tie, the final score in this NCL I battle.
Kelseyville held a 1-0 lead at halftime.
“The boys turned it on at the end and were really hustling,” Lower Lake coach Marcus Humphrey said of the Trojans (5-5-1, 7-5-2). “We really wanted that game. We fought for everything at the end. We need to go into every game with that kind of energy.”
Lower Lake had a handful shots in the final minutes but couldn’t break the tie, according to Humphrey.
Pedro Garrido helped preserve the draw with his play on defense.
“He kept a lot of shots from reaching our keeper,” Humphrey said.
Another Lower Lake standout was Jovany De La Cruz, who normally plays in the midfield but was moved to defense.
“He did a great job,” Humphrey said.
Kelseyville scoring was not reported.
The Knights host Willits on Thursday while Lower Lake is home against Middletown. Both games start at 4 p.m.
“It’s a rivalry game for our kids,” Humphrey said of playing the Mustangs.