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Whenever the St. Bernard’s and Ferndale girls soccer teams face off it’s usually a tight affair, and that was the case once again on Wednesday.

The two rival schools tied 0-0 for the second time in this year’s Little 4, leaving both teams tied for third in the standings with identical 0-2-2 records.

Both teams created opportunities, but neither was able to find a way past goalkeepers Sarah Luna of St. Bernard’s and Tinnley Pidgeon of Ferndale.

“We definitely had our chances,” St. Bernard’s head coach Jeff Sellars said. “We were threatening the whole game to score. We were ultimately unlucky to not score.”

Both defenses stood firm.

“It was very similar to when we played them a couple of weeks ago,” Ferndale head coach Bailey Davy said. “We know St. Bernard’s is always going to be tough and physical.”

There were standout performances on both teams, most notably Pidgeon, who continues to thrive in a new role for her team.

This was the third game the Wildcats played with just nine players and Pidgeon has had to play a keeper/sweeper role.

But it’s a challenge she has embraced.

“Tinnley had a fantastic game,” Davy said of the junior, who saved a penalty kick midway through the second half. “That kept us in the game.”

Luna also had a big game for the visitors at the other end of the field, keeping a clean sheet for her team.

Chloe Grunden also impressed for the Crusaders and came close to breaking the deadlock on multiple occasions, while the industrious Sahara Tupua led the SB defense and even saw some time in goal late in the game, where she also excelled.

“Sahara Tupua anchored our defense again,” her head coach said. “She did a great job chasing down the ball for us.”

Injuries continue to limit the Cats, who have just nine players on their roster right now, but all nine have been stepping up to the challenge and have adapted well.

“This was the third game we were down two players and it’s kind of our new norm,” Davy said. “It really hasn’t been that huge of a disadvantage for us because the girls are stepping up and covering more ground out there.

“They have a great attitude, they’re working really hard and they’re confident in what they’re able to do out there.”

Davy is hoping to have one of her injured players back in a limited role for a Saturday game at McKinleyville, but the Cats are still likely a couple of weeks away from being able to field a full team.

Also on Saturday St. Bernard’s will host Fortuna.

The second of Wednesday’s scheduled Little 4 games between South Fork and Del Norte in Crescent City was pushed back to Friday.