Submitted photo – The Del Norte girls won at St. Bernard’s on Friday.

The Little 4 girls soccer championship won’t be decided until the final game of the regular season.

On Friday afternoon, the Del Norte Warriors traveled to St. Bernard’s and knocked off the league-leading Crusaders 2-1.

The loss was the first in league play for the St. Bernard’s girls and keeps the Ferndale Wildcats in contention for the pennant.

The Wildcats, who are one point behind the Crusaders in the league standings, will host St. Bernard’s in the league finale on Tuesday afternoon, a game that will now decide the league title.

A win or a tie for the St. Bernard’s girls and they will be crowned champions, while the Wildcats need a win.

For the second straight year, the Warriors are making a late-season surge and are unbeaten in three straight games.

Aurora Mitchell scored one of Del Norte’s goals when she was quickest to react to a missed penalty she had taken, quickly jumping on the rebound and finding the back of the net on the second attempt.

Elizabeth Lopez also scored for the Warriors, netting on a long-range shot on a breakaway.

Goalkeeper Deja Payne had the wind knocked out of her on a collision that resulted in the St. Bernard’s goal but she pushed through, according to her coach.

“That girl is tough,” head coach Cyndi Hansen said. 

The win was the first for Del Norte in three league games against St. Bernard’s, all of which have been decided by just one goal.

“They all played exceptional,” Hansen said of her players.

The Crusaders, meanwhile, will try to regroup and remain well in the chase for the pennant.

Check out Aurora Mitchell’s goal above …

Arabella Maki scored their goal.

“It was a tough fought match,” SB head coach Brian Finck said. “Not trying to take anything away from Del Norte, they came ready to play.

“Cyndi Hansen and her coaching staff have done a wonderful job with her team throughout the season.”

A sluggish first proved costly for the Crusaders, although they picked up their intensity in the second half.

“We played well, just not well enough,” the head coach added. “We came out flat in the first half and had to play catch up the entire game.”

St. Bernard’s is now 6-1-1 in league play, while Del Norte improved to 3-4-1.

Tuesday’s game at Ferndale kicks off at 4 p.m.

The first two league games between St. Bernard’s and Ferndale resulted in a 2-2 tie and a 2-0 win for the Crusaders.