Redwood Times

South Fork High School’s girls’ varsity soccer team lost its opening contest of the season 2-1 Friday in Kelseyville.

The Lady Cubs dominated possession of the ball in the first half and created numerous scoring chances but were unable to finish until late in the half when sophomore winger Tashina Fields slotted a cross to junior striker Brianna Finney who put the ball in the back of the net. A mysterious call by the official allowed the goal after a whistle had sounded when Fields collided with a Kelseyville defender right after passing the ball. The Cubs were expecting a penalty kick, but the officials appeared to have made an advantage judgment after the whistle had blown allowing the goal to stand.

In the second half Kelseyville scored twice, once from just outside the post after a Cub defensive over commitment, and again from the top of the penalty box when three different players were on the ground and the ball emerged at the feet of a Kelseyville player who alertly buried it.

The Lady Cubs worked hard for the rest of the game to equalize, but with only two players on the bench fatigue set in as they struggled to keep up on Kelseyville’s exceptionally large field.

This week the Lady Cubs will host the Eureka Lady Loggers on Wednesday at 5 p.m. and will travel to Andersen Valley and Fort Bragg on the weekend.

The 2012 Lady Cubs have eight returning players from last year’s squad and three rookies. The team’s three senior co-captains are the versatile Megan Albee, striker/goalie Kaitlyn Teasley, finally back in good health after recovering from two knee surgeries, and two-time all county goalie/striker/midfielder Vonai Willison.

The team’s six juniors include defender Sammy Marino, defender/forward Jennie Rolff, midfielder/goalie Kathy Petersen, striker Brianna Finney, winger Megan Garcia, and new to the Cubs this season defender Kennedy Burnett, a 2011-2012 transfer student.

There is one returning sophomore: defender Zulie Blair and two sophomore rookies: Kylee Teasley and Tashina Fields.

Ella Scott and Ashleigh Harrison are the team’s only freshmen.