Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

By Ray Hamill — The Arcata Tigers appear to be coming together at a good time.

On Saturday, they defeated close rivals McKinleyville 7-1 in girls soccer at Arcata High, improving to 3-1 in league play and 6-1 overall.

More importantly, a good team performance sets the Arcata girls up for a key stretch of games, including a huge showdown at home to Fortuna on Monday and a second matchup against league leaders Eureka next weekend.

“It’s a good time to start peaking,” head coach Patrick Stranahan said.

The Loggers are 5-0 in league play after a forfeit win on Saturday over Del Norte, which was unable to field a team.

The Fortuna girls, who had a bye on Saturday, are 3-0 in league play, heightening the importance of Monday’s clash.

Elloway shines

One player who will carry plenty of confidence into the all-important game is center midfielder Zakiya Elloway, who scored four times in Saturday’s win, as well as setting up another.

Elloway is enjoying a big senior campaign in the middle of the field, alongside fellow senior Michaela Macdonald, who also has been impressing early.

Thea Trout also had a big game, scoring twice, with Gracie Townsend rounding out the scoring.

Macdonald, Bailey Cherms and Linda Carlson each had an assist.

But the offense wasn’t even the most impressive part of the Tigers’ performance.

“Our back line is improving every game,” Stranahan said.

Co-captain Zoe Leonard anchors a reliable unit that also includes starters Sophia Salinas, Tildy Macdonald and Jocelyn Bliven, as well as Nadia Smith, who provides valuable minutes off the bench.

Mackenzie Bray got the only goal for the McKinleyville girls, who dropped to 1-3 in league play, scoring off an assist from Cicely Jones.

“We’ve got to work better on defense,” head coach Adam Canepa said. “We’ve got to not allow that many chances.”

Two of McKinleyville’s losses have come against Eureka.