Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Action from Wednesday’s game at Washington Field.

By Ray Hamill — The Eureka girls kicked off a new era for the team in soccer with an impressive victory over one of their biggest rivals on Wednesday afternoon.

New head Melania Valdez inherited a very new-look roster this fall, but the end result was much the same as what we’ve come to expect from a program that has dominated the H-DNL in recent years.

Hosting the Arcata Tigers at Washington Field, the Loggers broke a 1-1 tie late in the first half and would add a third goal after the break on their way to a 3-1 victory.

The game was the team’s season and league opener and the win was the first for Valdez as a high school head coach.

Freshman Kyla Benzinger scored two first-half goals for the Loggers, including a strike just before the break, and Gracia Ortiz added the third in the second half.

“Overall, I was very, very impressed with the way we were able to hold possession and just talk it out on the field,” Valdez said of her players. “I’ve been talking to them about the resilience that needs to be there, and for me (what impressed me) it was us being able to go out there and play as a team.”

It was business as usual for the three Eureka team captains, with strong performances from Paige Rodgers in defense, Angelina Conant in midfield and Lorena Hernandez in attack.

“My captains have been stepping it up and showing the younger players the ropes,” Valdez said.

Conant, who was named Humboldt Sports Girls Soccer Player of the Year in 2023, picked up just where she left off a year ago and set the tone in the center of the field.

“She always steps it up,” Valdez said of the influential senior. “She’s pretty used to that holding position and she definitely knows what she’s doing back there.”

Rodgers, who has grown in stature as a defender during her three years with the team, was as sure-footed as ever in the back line, alongside impressive sophomore Olivianna Millender, while Hernnadez looked as dangerous as ever in leading the Eureka front line.

Check out Kyla Benzinger’s game-winning goal below …

Ortiz also impressed in attack after switching from the wing to forward just two days ago, and her second-half strike helped seal the victory.

“I was really happy with her performance,” the new coach said.

A couple of freshmen also impressed for the home team.

In addition to Benzinger, who kicked off her high school career in style with the two goals, fellow freshman Braelyn Frank had a big game in defense with a composed performance for such a young player.

The game was evenly matched throughout the first half, with Arcata senior standout Sionna Khattab leading the way for her team.

After Benzinger had given the home team the lead just 13 minutes, it was Khattab who responded for the visitors with a beautifully taken free kick from 22 yards out just five minutes later.

Unfortunately for the industrious Tigers, that was all the scoring they could muster and the Loggers would seal the victory with a shutout second half.

Humboldt Sports reached out to the Arcata coach for his thoughts on his team’s performance, but he did not respond.

Coaches are encouraged to call in details of their games if they want coverge for their players.