File photo – The Del Norte Warriors

Del Norte and South Fork faced off in a competitive Little 4 girls soccer game in Miranda on Thursday, with the Warriors coming away with a 2-1 win.

The victory was the second for the Del Norte girls over the Cubs in league play with both goals coming in the second half.

Alexis Aguirre was a threat up front for the visitors all game long and scored her team’s opening goal, before teammate Lillie Franklin added the second on a hard-hit shot that went in off the crossbar.

A young Del Norte team continues to build under second-year head coach Cyndi Hansen and there were several bright spots in the win.

Most notably the play of defenders Ariana Penningtion and KaLynn Schaad and midfielders Lilly Sherman and Lilly Schaad, all of whom continued to impress on Thursday.

“All of those players play very supportive roles on the field,” Hansen said. 

The Cubs, meanwhile, played their best game of the season, according to head coach Ann Constantino.

“We did have most of the ball in the first half and late in the second half when we kept the pressure on,” Constantino said.

The ever-dangerous Caidence Young scored for South Fork on a well-taken penalty kick for her third goal of the season after teammate Hannah Salvio was taken down in the box.

Young was influential throughout and had some nice through passes for Savio and Genesis Medrano that caused the visitors problems.

Zoe Bignon also had a good game playing alongside Young in midfield while Cloe McConnell was outstanding at sweeper.

“She was running down loose balls and winning the ball form opponents,” Constantino said of McConnell, who is one of two seniors on the team along with Young.

File photo

File photo

“Our two seniors shined in this game,” the coach added. “But we also got a glimpse of a promising future.”

Makenzie Brewer played in goal for the opening half and kept a clean sheet while making seven saves, before Savio took over between the posts after the break and finished with three saves.

Next up, on Saturday, South Fork will play a make-up game at Arcata at 3 p.m.

On Tuesday, the Cubs resume league play at St. Bernard’s and Del Norte hosts Ferndale.