Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Eureka’s Aquene Tollefson

By Ray Hamill — The Eureka girls kicked off the new soccer season in sensational fashion on Wednesday night, scoring twice in the opening eight minutes and storming out to a five-goal advantage by halftime.

The speed up front and precision passing of the defending champions caused the McKinleyville Panthers problems from the get-go, in particular junior forwards Klayre Barres and Aquene Tollefson.

Barres had two shots in the opening 90 seconds, before setting up Tollefson on a wonderful move down the wing and into the penalty area.

Her partner in crime then side-stepped a defender and made no mistake with a beautifully placed shot that gave Mack goalie Taya Gomes no chance.

Six minutes later, Tollefson repaid the assist with  a wonderfully placed free kick to the edge of the six-yard box, where Barres scored the first of her four goals on the night.

The two junior playmakers will be a handful for any opposing defense this fall, especially with a dynamic supporting cast of teammates on a  deep squad that came out of the starting gates in mid-season form under new head coach Tommy Learmouth.

The second half was a different story, with the visitors stepping up their game and holding the potent Loggers attack scoreless for the period.

Barres and Tollefson were far from the only heroes in a dominant team win, including the immediate emergence of two freshmen, Jordan Brown and Amelia Staiano, each of whom impressed in their high school debuts.

For more on the season-opening win, see Loggers start fast, shut out Panthers …