The Healdsburg boys soccer team, with their 3-2 record so far this year, has found much of their success in games at home—including an 8-0 trouncing of St. Helena last Friday night. A week earlier, they defeated Windsor at home 3-1, but lost on the road against Ukiah on Dec. 3.
“Healdsburg was able to score four goals in each half against St. Helena—a good result for Healdsburg considering that St. Helena is a Division 4 school just like Healdsburg,” said head coach Herbert Lemus.
Scoring for Healdsburg were Anthony Guzman and Jairo Mendoza with two each, and single goals from Cayson Hagen, Jeremiah Tinsley and Henry Ortiz. That adds up to 7 points: The St. Helena team scored an “own goal” in the first half, inadvertently sending the ball into their own net for a Healdsburg point.
“The team had a very good outing; they executed what was put together at practice,” Lemus said. “We had asked the team to press the defense of St. Helena to put them under pressure to force mistakes or regain possession of the ball in their defensive third.” That “own goal” in the first half was an example of St. Helena feeling the pressure.
“Overall based on the stats, the win was a team effort,” summarized the coach. Last year’s Greyhounds finished with a 5-10-2 record, so already the boys are off to a good start at 3-2.
Coming up this week are the Wednesday game in Healdsburg against Roseland University Prep (1-0) and a Friday night game at Maria Carrillo in Santa Rosa (1-0-1 to date).
Girls Still Undefeated
Meanwhile the girls soccer team is riding high after six straight wins, including one against the St. Helena Saints on Friday, Dec. 6, by a 2-1 score. Senior Madeleine Munselle kicked home both goals for the Greyhounds.
Their biggest game of the year so far was on Monday, Dec. 2, against St. Vincent. The Greyhound girls scored six points to put away the Mustangs. Senior Julia Dolph scored twice, once in each half, with additional goals by Olivia Saini, Vanessa Castro (penalty kick conversion), Lucy Behrens and Maria Castro.
Their undefeated early season stands in contrast to last year’s record, when they finished 5-9-2; by this point in December 2023 they were 2-1-2.
Tuesday night they had a rematch against Cloverdale, a team they defeated on Nov. 19 by a tight 4-3. This time they ran their record to 7-0 with a 4-0 shutdown of their 101 rivals.
It will be followed on Thursday by an away game against Swett of Crockett (Contra Costa County).
