Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Action form Tuesday’s game in Eureka.
By Ray Hamill — The defending league champions in H-DNL boys soccer find themselves right back in the thick of the chase for this year’s title after a pair of results went their way on Tuesday.
While the McKinleyville Panthers handed the league-leading Arcata Tigers their first loss of the campaign, the 2023 champion Del Norte Warriors secured a big road win at Eureka, 3-1.
The victory for the Del Norte boys lifts them to 4-1-1 in league play (nine points) and they are now just three points behind the Tigers with a game against South Fork in hand.
If they win that game, the Warriors will be just one point behind the Tigers, who they have yet to play in Crescent City.
“We played a good balanced game and were in control for much of the game,” Del Norte head coach David Sanyaolu said of Tuesday’s performance. “Our defense was solid and our offense was sharp and decisive, though we had chances to score more goals.”
Del Norte led 2-0 at halftime and would stretch the lead to three with 10 minutes to go in the game before the home team got on the scoreboard late.
Mario Ledezma broke the deadlock for the Warriors just six minutes in, and teammate Brandt Pennington added the second later in the half.
Team captain Adrian Contreras, who was one of the most influential players on the field throughout the game, assisted on the two opening goals, including a sublime long pass to set up Pennington for the second.
Giovanni Alvarado netted Del Norte’s third goal with Pennington assisting on the score.
“Overall, I am happy with our performance,” Sanyaolu added.
For Eureka, it was a tale of two halves, as the Loggers grew into the game.
“I thought the second half was night and day from the first half,” head coach Tommy Learmouth said. “I thought in the first half we played scared. We didn’t have a lot of intensity. And I thought in the second half we really stepped up and threatened, and (the players) started to believe in what we’re doing and how we’re capable of playing.”
Levi Grossman scored Eureka’s only goal of the game after a shot by Trent Gerber was deflected into his path.
Once again, several of the team seniors led the way with big performances by Will Mooney in goal, Makai Dennon in midfield and Gerber in attack, but they weren’t the only ones to shine.
Kyan Green also had a big game, as did freshman Luis Gonzalez.
“Those guys all played well today,” Learmouth said.
Another freshman, Lucas Ask, also impressed his coach with his energy and tenacity on his return from injury.
“That kid has no quit,” Learmouth said.
With the loss, Eureka dropped to 3-4 in league play.
Next up, on Saturday, Del Norte will travel to play at Fortuna in another key game for the team, while Eureka will try to bounce back at McKinleyville.
