ROHNERT PARK — Clear Lake High School’s girls soccer team hung in there against North Central League II defending champion Credo for more than a half before the Gryphon pulled away for a 5-0 non-league victory on Wednesday afternoon in Rohnert Park.
Clear Lake head coach Derick Fiske said Credo lived up to the scouting report he received from Upper Lake head coach Daniella Santana, whose Cougars finished second behind Credo in last year’s NCL II race.
“She told me about their precision passing and that’s what it was,” Fiske said. “We could not stop those precision passes although we had the ball where we wanted it much of the first half.”
Playing on all-weather surface in 80-degree weather, the Cardinals (0-3-2) couldn’t have asked for a better field or weather conditions, according to Fiske.
“It was perfect,” he said.
The only goal of the first half came 12 minutes into the game. Clear Lake had a couple of decent scoring chances during the half on shots by Nancy Ruzicka and Ashton Fiske, two of Clear Lake’s senior captains.
“They took good shots,” Fiske said.
Credo increased its lead to 2-0 early in the second half before breaking things open with three more goals later in the half.
One problem for Clear Lake was turnovers, according to Fiske.
“About 100 turnovers,” Fiske said. “There were times we passed it right to them.”
Credo’s final three goals came against a Clear Lake team Fiske said was “gassed” after battling a physical Credo squad.
“Kiley (Bartell, senior keeper) did a good job for us, but there is only so much you can do when you’re getting shot after shot on non-stop (Credo) breakaways,” Fiske said.
Clear Lake returns to action Tuesday against Technology in Rohnert Park.
