The NCL-1 soccer champion Lady Eagles will start a new season this Saturday, Nov. 9 when open the North Coast Section Division-3 playoffs at Jack Allen Stadium. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
Cloverdale, the third seed in the NCS tournament, will play the winner of the Clear Lake-St. Helena match. Whichever team it is, it should be a favorable draw. Should the Eagles advance on Saturday as expected, they will likely travel to play Middletown for a fourth time next Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
“We are very familiar with both teams and feel we will match up well with either team,” Cloverdale coach Steve Stewart said. “We will have to play Middletown for the fourth time this year, but we feel we can go there and win if we play well and limit our mistakes. We feel like we can go deep into the playoffs and if we play well get into the championship game,” he added.
The complete list of NCS Division-3 teams in seeding order is Sonoma Academy (18-1), Middletwon (18-2), Cloverdale (18-2), St. Vincent (15-3-1), Roseland University Prep (14-6-1), Clear Lake (14-7), Calistoga (9-12), Ferndale (9-6-1), Rincon Valley Christian (11-8-1), and St. Helena (7-7).
Eagles fall in rubber match
After finishing the league campaign in a tie for first place with Middletown, the Eagles hosted the Mustangs on Oct. 29 in a match that would decide the automatic NCS playoff berth.
Middletown took control early, scoring three goals in the first period. Bailey Stewart got the Eagles on the board with a score before the half, but the Wolverines would emerge with a 3-1 win.
