LAKE COUNTY — A year ago today the 2019-20 high school sports season was underway in Lake County, with a handful of football, soccer and volleyball teams playing their first games or matches of the new season.
As a regular feature in the Record-Bee until the COVID-19-delayed 2020-21 sports season starts — projected to be in mid-December — the newspaper will take a look back at the happenings of a year ago and the athletes and teams who were making headlines.
Football
On Aug. 23, 2019, the Kelseyville Knights began what would turn out to be a disappointing season (2-8) with a 28-6 home loss to visiting San Marin High School of Novato.
Running back Robert Chavez scored on a 42-yard run midway through the third quarter for the Knights’ only points during a game in which Kelseyville mistakes, including a botched punt snap, derailed the team’s season opener.
The Kelseyville junior varsity squad also struggled, falling 49-6.
Girls soccer
The start of a great season for the Middletown High girls soccer squad began with a three-game sweep at the annual Tyler Duncan Memorial Tournament in Upper Lake where the Mustangs didn’t allow a goal while beating Lower Lake, 8-0, St. Bernard of Eureka, 1-0, and Clear Lake, 8-0.
Middletown would go on to finish the season at 21-3-1, including a 14-0 league mark and a 12th straight North Central League I championship. The Mustangs’ 3-0 run in the postseason also yielded the school’s second sectional title in girls soccer, and its first in Division 1.
The Mustangs return nearly their entire starting lineup intact for the 2020-21 campaign.
