File photo – The Del Norte Warriors
The Del Norte Warriors put themselves firmly back in contention in the race for the 2024 H-DNL championship with a crucial win in boys soccer on Tuesday afternoon.
The Warriors welcomed league leaders Arcata to Crescent City and won 2-0 to move within two points of the summit with two games remaining.
The Tigers remain tied atop the standings with Fortuna, which had a bye on Tuesday.
The Huskies have two games remaining, while the Tigers have just one game left to play, at home against Fortuna next week.
And that means for the second straight year the race for the championship will go down to the final day of action.
If the Tigers can get the better of the Huskies next Tuesday, this year’s league title will likely be split three ways, providing the Huskies get the better of Eureka in Fortuna on Saturday in their other remaining game.
Del Norte’s remaining games are at St. Bernard’s on Saturday and at home against South Fork on Tuesday, each of which they will be expected to win.
In other games on Tuesday, Eureka defeated South Fork 6-1 and McKinleyville beat St. Bernard’s 8-0.
Several late-season injuries have been proving costly for Arcata, most notably a season-ending injury to influential left wing back Daniel Hernandez, who has bene one of the team’s biggest playmakers for much of the season.
After winning their first six league games, the injured Tigers have now lost three of their last five, including two straight.
“Ever since we lost Daniel Hernandez, we’ve been really struggling,” Arcata head coach John Davidson said. “I didn’t realize how much we’d miss him.”
File photo
Both of Del Norte’s goals came after the break.
Greyson Franklin headed home from a corner kick to break the deadlock before Brandt Pennington doubled the lead on a well-placed shot from outside the penalty area.
“They were hungry,” Davidson said of the Warriors, who lost the first league matchup between the two schools in Arcata. “Their team really gave it their all. They played with a lot of heart and a lot of passion. I appreciate their stubbornness. They’re a tough team to play against. They’re scrappy and they have a stubborn back line.”
Grosveld continued to play a hugely influential role for the Tigers.
“I’m impressed with his consistency, and not letting the scoreline affect his effort,” Davidson said. “He’s finishing the season as a strong leader for us.”
