Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – McKinleyville’s Kristian Gajic (7) and Fortuna’s Jack Honsal in action during Wednesday’s game.

By Ray Hamill — The Huskies scored an unlikely goal with less than two minutes remaining at McKinleyville on Wednesday to sneak a tie against a very determined Panthers team and keep their unbeaten season going.

Fortuna’s Sergio Marquez somehow found the back of the net off a 30-yard free kick after the ball snuck through a crowded goal mouth and past McKinleyville keeper Ethan Shelly.

The tie keeps the Huskies atop the H-DNL standings with a record of 4-0-1 (9-0-1 overall), while McKinleyville is now 1-2-2 in league.

For the Panthers, it was one that got away despite a very solid performance against the six-time league champions.

“Honestly, it’s hard to take right now,” McKinleyville head coach Ryne Deppe said afterwards. “It’s hard to look on that as a positive. This is going to sting. When you have a chance to beat a team like that, you’ve got to run with it.”

McKinleyville’s Dustyn Huneke heads towards goal during Wednesday’s game.

Both teams struggled at times in what was an evenly-matched game, with the home team taking the lead on an own goal early in the second half.

“We were chasing after that and trying to figure how to get ourselves back in the game,” said Fortuna head coach Daniel Holmes, who was without injured standout striker Fernando Atilano. 

Center midfield continues to be a concern for the Huskies, as Holmes looks for a reliable partner for Antonio Garcinuno.

“We’re still trying to figure out the middle, but I think that will come,” the coach said, adding that his team “played with a lot of heart.”

Fortuna’s Lane Shelton (13)and McKinleyvulle’s Nathan Witte

Junior full back Angel Ornelas had a good game for the Huskies, causing problems up and down the wing throughout.

There were a lot of positives despite the late letdown for the Panthers, who became just the second team to score against the high-flying Huskies in five league games.

Narayan Weibel, Caleb Coke and Alex Macy each played well in midfield for Mack, which forced the visitors out wide in their attacks.

“We played well in the second half, with our intensity and just playing our style of game,” Deppe said.