Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Eureka’s Chan Vang eyes the ball ahead of making an interception against Ukiah on Saturday night.

By Ray Hamill — The hard work is paying off for a pair of Eureka standouts, who are this week’s Humboldt Sports Athletes of the Week, sponsored by College of the Redwoods Athletics.

Senior Chan Vang, described by his head coach as the hardest working player on the Loggers football team, had a huge season opener against Ukiah at Albee Stadium on Saturday night.

Vang came away with two crucial interceptions in a 23-16 victory, highlighting a big bend-don’t-break defensive performance by Eureka.

Fellow Logger Lila Ekholdt is also enjoying an outstanding early season for the Eureka girls soccer team, including scoring twice and assisting on the third goal in a 3-0 win over Del Norte on Saturday.

Our team of the week honors, meanwhile, go to the McKinleyville girls soccer team, which is off to a flying start this season and can’t stop scoring goals.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Chan Vang

Eureka Football, Senior

According to head coach Andrew Haraldson, Vang is the only Logger to have not missed a single session with the team dating back to the end of the spring season and he has worked hard to earn himself a starting spot.

And that hard work paid off for the cornerback and his team on Saturday, when Vang came up with a pair of interceptions, playing a pivotal role in the season-opening victory.

“He’s just worked so hard to make himself a starter,” Haraldson said.

For more on Vang and Eureka, see Loggers dig deep in exciting season opener at Albee …

Lila Ekholdt

Eureka Soccer, Sophomore

As her head coach Tommy Learmouth has suggested, Ekholdt plays with a calm composure well beyond her years every time she has the ball at her feet.

The Eureka sophomore enjoyed a stellar debut campaign in local high school soccer in the spring, and has carried that momentum into the fall, where she has had an immediate impact this season.

Ekholdt has been involved in her team’s goals in every game so far, providing an assist in all three games as well as scoring twice against Del Norte.

For more on Ekholdt’s big week, see our weekend Girls Soccer Roundup …

File photo – The McKinleyville Panthers

TEAM OF THE WEEK 

McKinleyville Girls Soccer

The high-flying Panthers are arguably the story of the soccer season so far and have been on fire at both ends of the field.

The Panthers have won five of their six games, with an impressive tie against powerhouse Eureka in the other game.

More impressively, they have scored 43 goals in those games, while allowing only two.

There will be far tougher challenges ahead for the Mack girls, but it’s shaping up to be an exciting season for head coach Adam Canepa and his players.

For more on the Panthers, see Mack girls continue impressive run with another big win …