Ferndale Wildcats sweep MVP awards in Little 4 girls soccer

By barstoolfanatics on December 1, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Regan Russ

By Ray Hamill — After leading the Ferndale Wildcats to an historic first-ever North Coast Section championship in girls soccer this fall, teammates Regan Russ and Tinnley Pidgeon have been named MVPs of the Little 4.

The Wildcats fell just short in their bid for a league title, with the pennant going to St. Bernard’s, but the Ferndale girls swept the MVP awards after their historic campaign.

Russ, who was consistently outstanding at sweeper for her team all year long, was named Outfield MVP, while the reliable Pidgeon took home the MVP Goalkeeper award.

And both were worthy winners, according to their coaches.

“What an accomplishment,” head coach Bailey Davy said of Russ. “Regan deserves every bit of the award and I honestly couldn’t be more proud. She had a fantastic year.”

The senior’s impact on her team was felt at both ends of the field, whether she was denying opposing forwards or scoring herself.

“Anyone who followed girls soccer this year, whether they made it to a game or just followed the Humboldt sports articles, knows who Regan Russ is,” Davy added. “Playing a pivotal role as our back anchor, while being one of our leading scorers, she was a force to be reckoned with the entire season.”

Her impact on the program in such an historic season will be felt for years.

“She led not only this team, or this season, but the future of the Wildcat girls soccer program,” Davy said.

Assistant coach Brenden McDonald echoed the sentiment.

“She always came to play and put everything she had into practice and into every game,” he said. “Her focus was to win no matter who we played.

“She played a very pivotal role in our offense with every free kick or corner kick she took … She also was one of the backbones of our defense and was one of reasons we kept goals out of our net.”

Pidgeon was equally influential and sure-handed and composed between the posts.

Tinnley Pidgeon

Arabella Maki

And remarkably she did so in her first year playing the position.

“This was her first full year playing and training as a goalkeeper and she embraced every moment of it,” said McDonald, who was the Wildcats’ goalkeeper coach. “She practices hard and plays just as hard. Everything is 110 percent. She saved us many times with her play in goal and got better and better as the season moved on.

“Her communication and leadership from her position helped us immensely in both offensive and defensive situations. She commanded and controlled her goal box every time she stepped out there, including a shutout in the NCS championship game.”

That effort also did not go unnoticed by the head coach.

“You will not find a more dedicated or determined athlete than Tinnley Pidgeon,” Davy said. “She is the definition of grit, passion, work ethic and determination to be the best she can be.”

After being denied in the NCS playoffs in 2022, the two standouts came ready to play this season with one ambition above all others.

Clara Christiansen

Amber Smith

“Both of these players had one goal in mind at the beginning of the season. To win,” McDonald said. “And they did it. They did it in practice. They did it in every game. They won. I could not be happier for these two and the entire team for accomplishing what they did.”

The dynamic duo was joined on the all-league team by teammate Clare Christiansen, who was a consistent force at fullback all season.

The league champion St. Bernard’s girls, meanwhile, had seven players receive all-league recognition, including five on the all-league team.

Last year’s L4 co-MVP Madelyn Shanahan made the team after another standout season, and is joined on the all-league team by Arabella Maki, Hannah Finck, Eliana Sellars and Amber Smith, all of whom were consistent threats for the Crusaders.

Del Norte’s Alexis Aguirre and Aurora Mitchell also made the all-league team, as did South Fork’s Cadence Young and Cole McConnell.