By Ray Hamill — Four well-taken goals highlighted a non-conference girls soccer showdown at McKinleyville High School on Saturday as the host school beat a shorthanded Ferndale team 3-1.

There was plenty of quality with the finishing of both schools, who gave the opposing goalkeepers no chance on any of them.

And it was a well-played game by both teams, who each created opportunities and kept the opposing defenses on their toes.

“I thought McKinleyville was a fantastic team,” Ferndale head coach Bailey Davy said. “I really was impressed with their play. They have a solid midfield and attacking line and I think they caused some problems for us that we haven’t seen. I wish them the best for the rest of the season.

“I thought their three goals were fantastic goals. There’s not a lot you could do about them.”

Emily Mather netted the opener for the Panthers, who led 1-0 at halftime.

Abi Pimentel doubled the home team’s lead just seven minutes into the second half on another well-taken long range shot, before Madison Gossi pulled one back for the visitors just eight minutes later on an equally impressive shot from long range.

Gossi’s goal came just a few minutes after the Wildcats had hit the crossbar as they continued to cause the Mack defense some concerns despite playing with just 10 players because of a plethora of injuries the team has suffered through the first half of the season.

The Panthers, however, would add to their lead late in the game when Abi’s sister Grace Pimentel scored on yet another long range effort that she placed beautifully over Ferndale keeper Tinnley Pidgeon’s reach.

Check out Grace Pimentel’s goal above …

Both Pimentel sisters are enjoying strong seasons for the Panthers.

Grace Pimentel and Mary Ann Som each had an assist for the home team.

“We played good. We controlled the game had a lot of opportunities,” said McKinleyville head coach Brady Burtchett, whose team enjoyed the better share of possession and were deserved winners.

“We did a good job moving the ball,” the coach added. “We had good control and our defense played well. We did not give up too many opportunities.”

Once again, senior team leader Gabby Watson was particularly effective up front for the Panthers, while “Grace and Abi Pimentel worked well with each other,” according to the coach.

Defenders Bailee Box and Ahty Allen also continued to shine at the back and have been an effective pairing in the heart of the McKinleyville defense all season long.

The shorthanded Wildcats, who have been playing with just nine players for the past few weeks, continued to impress with their resiliency, and they got some relief with one of their injured players returning in a limited role for Saturday’s game.

“We’re showing up,” said Davy, whose team has been competitive against the larger schools despite playing with less players almost every game. “We played with nine and a half players today. We had one of of our girls slowly rotating back in. It was good to have 10 people back on the field (for some of the game). I wish we could have tested their back line a little more.

“But overall the girls are stepping up when they need to.”

No one more so than junior goalkeeper Tinnley Pidgeon, who has been arguably the best goalkeeper in the entire H-DNL this fall and is this week’s Humboldt Sports Athlete of the Week.

Pidgeon helped keep her team in the game and earned the respect of her opposing coach, not for the first time this season.

“Their keeper was the best I’ve seen all year,” Burtchett said. “She kept them in the game. Just to score was a challenge.”

Remarkably, Pidgeon only began playing the position last year and has worked hard with Ferndale assistant coach Brenden McDonald, who has helped establish her as a quality net minder in a short time.

“As always Tinnley had a fantastic game,” Davy said. “She impresses me every time she steps on the field.

“Brenden has done a phenomenal job with her, and Tinnley has put the hard work in.”

Michaela Ellsmore also continued to impress for the visitors in the heart of their defense.

“She’s been holding down that back line,” Davy said of the Cats sweeper.

Davy also praised the McKinleyville attack, which was patient against a disciplined Ferndale offside trap, which has worked effectively against many of the other Big 4 teams this fall.

“McKinleyville was very smart,” Davy said. “They were patient. They waited to pull the trigger.”

Despite the adversity the Ferndale players have had to battle this season, the team remains upbeat.

“I’m happy with the performance,” the Cats head coach added. “Their spirits are high despite the record. I’m proud of how the girls are hanging in, and the parents have been great supporting the team.”

Next up, the Ferndale girls will play a non-conference game at home to Eureka on Monday before resuming the Little 4 with a trip to play conference leaders Del Norte on Wednesday.

The Panthers, meanwhile, will entertain Eureka in a Big 4 showdown on Wednesday.