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The Del Norte Warriors have not always been known for their achievements on the soccer field, but all of that is changing.

On Saturday afternoon, the Del Norte girls team capped a memorable run through the Little 4 by securing a first-ever conference title in the sport with a 1-1 tie against St. Bernard’s in Crescent City.

Three days after clinching at least a share of the championship, the Del Norte girls took care of business to win it outright, and they did so with a game to spare.

“They were super stoked,” head coach Shawn Eckart said of his players. “And they were the ones who did it. Like I told them after the game, you guys are the ones who won the title.”

It all began during the summer months, when the De Norte players began their preseason preparation with a determined mindset and the players collectively bought into the challenge.

And that carried over into the fall season, with the team losing just once in eight conference games so far.

And, according to Eckart, the championship was really achieved in practice.

“These girls, I’ve asked a lot of them and they have all stepped up to the task,” the coach added. “They’ve been great listening to me. We do a lot of strategizing and they’re sponges. They really, really try to apply what we do in practice.

“They’re the reason we’re here. They take practice seriously.”

Saturday’s game was a physical and back-and-forth showdown and the Warriors led for much of the afternoon after taking a first-half lead.

Lillie Franklin netted the go-ahead goal from a cross by teammate Jaden Bennett midway through the opening half.

The lead held until the final 10 minutes, when sophomore Malia Masayos equalized for the visitors off of a cornerback.

A composed Del Norte defense, however, would hold on down the stretch to secure the breakthrough championship.

“Hopefully we can build on this,” Eckart said. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

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The first-year coach has also been developing a JV team, which should help establish the program even further.

There were several standouts on both teams on Saturday, including the Del Norte midfielders, who helped control the flow of the game.

“I liked our midfield today,” Eckart said. “The midfield were really moving the ball around. They were really trying to work the ball and definitely embracing that more.”

The game, according to both coaches, was evenly-matched.

“It was a tough hard-fought game,” St. Bernard’s head coach Jeff Sellars said. 

“It was a battle,” added Eckart. “It was back and forth, and it was just a really evenly-matched game.”

Masayos impressed up front for the visitors, along with teammates Eliana Sellars and Cadence Figas, as the Crusaders overcame a sluggish start and grew into the game.

“I thought we were kind of lacking in our energy in the first half, but we found another level in the second half,” said the SB head coach, who added “Our three forwards did a very good job of pressuring.”

Midfielders Amber Smith, Alyssa Boham and Claire Costa also worked well together and “were fighting for every inch in the middle of the park,” according to the coach.

Defensively, wing defenders Cloe Grunden and Paula Bullock both also impressed.