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It was a good day for the Big 4 teams in girls soccer on Saturday, with all four of them beating their Little 4 opponents in non-conference action.

The Eureka Loggers beat their crosstown rivals St. Bernard’s 4-1, while the Huskies scored a late goal to edge Del Norte 1-0 in Fortuna.

Also in action on Saturday, Arcata beat shorthanded Ferndale 1-0 and McKinleyville got the better of South Fork 4-1.

Sionna Khattab continued to impress for the Arcata girls, as she has been doing all season, and the senior standout helped anchor the back line in her team’s shutout.

That strong defense helped goalkeeper Sonja Vevoda-Wahlig keep a clean sheet between the posts.

Zalayshia Velazquez netted the only goal of the game.

For Ferndale, junior Tinnley Pidgeon was outstanding once again.

With the team limited to nine players for much of the early season, Pidgeon had to play a sweeper/keeper role and she did not disappoint.

“Tinnley Pidgeon had a great game,” head coach Bailey Davy said of the shot stopper, who has also been impressing opposing coaches with her play all season. “There was lots of action on our side of the field and she got her touches in today.”

Pidgeon and Michaela Ellsmore helped keep a dangerous Arcata attack in check for much of the game.

“I feel like we really shut down the through balls Arcata was trying to play, with Tinnley being able to sweep most of them up,” Davy added. “Between Tinnley and Michaela, they handled the pressure well back there.”

Taren Titus also had a good game on the back line for the busy Ferndale defense, which did a good job holding a high line and catching the Tigers offside multiple times.

“Overall, I’m just happy with how our girls are continuing to show up and play,” Davy said. “We will continue to focus on our smaller team victories and keep pushing forward.”

At St. Bernard’s, meanwhile, four different players found the back of the net for the Loggers, who quickly put a midweek defeat at Fortuna behind them.

Lorena Hernandez, Angelina Conant, Grecia Ortiz and Natalie Wylie each scored in the win.

“We played very well,” Eureka head coach Melania Valdez said. “We had a couple of times where we were a little slow, but for the majority of the game we played as a team and I was very, very proud of them for that.”

Goalkeeper Anneliese Fugate turned in a good performance between the posts in the second half as she continues to show promise in her first season playing the sport in several years.

And she got plenty of help from an impressive Eureka back line, which Valdez said “did a great job” in the absence of sophomore starter Olivianna Millender, who missed the game.

Center backs Paige Rodgers and Braelyn Frank anchored the unit along with right back Jasmin Chavez and left backs Phoebe Paoli and Amalah Syphanthons.

The latter two in particular “absolutely stepped up,” according to the coach, and looked composed in possession despite not having seen a lot of playing time this season.

The midfield trio of Conant, Hernandez and Kyla Benzinger once again impressed the coach with their possession and passing.

“The whole team did an incredible job,” Valdez added.

Claire Costa scored the only goal of the game for the Crusaders, with Ella Eads assisting on the play.

Overall, SB head coach Jeff Sellars was more than happy with his team’s performance.

“I thought we played a great game,” the first-year head coach said. “I’m proud of the whole team. They were fighting the whole game and a threat to score the whole game.”

Costa was particularly effective, along with the ever-dangerous midfield trio of Eliana Sellars, Xochitl Granados and Cadence Figas, who continue to play well together.

“I thought they were working really hard together,” Jeff Sellars said of the talented and hard-working trio. 

So too did the SB back line, with Amber Smith switching to defense and turning in a strong performance, alongside Addison Burris and Paula Bullock.

At Fortuna, meanwhile, the Huskies broke a late deadlock when Kalie Chittenden scored the winning goal against Del Norte in the final two minutes of the game.

Jamilet Ortega-Miranda assisted on the strike.

Overall, however, it wasn’t the Huskies’ best performance of the season.

“It just felt like the energy and effort wasn’t there today,” Fortuna head coach Arnulfo Aguirre said. “We had some good passes, but it felt like we were a step behind.”

The Fortuna coach also praised the Warriors and believes their head coach Shawn Eckart has his team headed in the right direction.

“Del Norte did a good job disrupting our attack,” he said. “He’s definitely helped them improve with their discipline and they’re not making mistakes.

“And it shows when they play the work they’ve been putting in.”

The consistent Myra Hayes continued to shine for the Huskies, as she has done for much of the season, and she anchored a strong defensive performance.

“She was making sure everyone was putting in their best effort and controlling the back line and trying to keep everyone focused,” Aguirre said. 

Tatiana Olson also impressed her coach with a strong performance off the bench.

“She brought energy when we needed it,” he said of the fullback.

The Del Norte girls continued their impressive run and they have been far more competitive against the Big 4 schools this season.

Junior team captain Hollyn Wakefield had a big showing in the heart of defense and was pivotal in helping her team contain the Fortuna forwards until late in the game.

“She was on it,” Eckart said.

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Fellow team captains Aurora Mitchell and Alexis Aguirre each also played well for the visitors, as they have been all season long.

Lily Franklin came close to giving the Warriors the lead on a breakaway but her efforts came up just short.

Overall, the 2024 Warriors continue to play with a composure and knowledge of the game that we haven’t often seen from them in the past.

“They know where they’re supposed to be and that has brought them a lot of confidence,” Eckart said.

At McKinleyville, meanwhile, Gabby Watson scored three goals for the host Panthers, who created plenty of opportunities against the Cubs.

Abi Pimentel also netted in the win, while her sister Grace Pimentel continued to impress and assisted on three of the team’s goals.

The home team quickly took control of the game with three first-half goals and there was no way back for the visitors after that with the Mack defense holding firm for much of the game.

“We played a good game,” McKinleyville head coach Brady Burtchett said. “We had lots of shots. They’re a pretty physical team and we had to play hard. We had to adjust and it was good to see the girls do that.”

Ahty Allen helped anchor the McKinleyville defense with another composed performance at sweeper.

“Our defense was locked in,” Burtchett added.

Hannah Savio scored the only goal of the game for the Cubs, netting for the seventh time this season in the second half.

Makenzie Brewer assisted on the the goal for South Fork, which matched the home team 1-1 in the second half.

Among the highlights for South Fork, Kiana Savage had a big game in defense, as did Flora Cruise and Kamea Hawkins.

Molly Perkins also continued to impress in her defensive midfield role, as did Aubrey Young in midfield.