Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Action from Tuesday’s game at St. Bernard’s.

The Ferndale Wildcats carried their impressive early-season form into conference play on Tuesday afternoon, traveling to St. Bernard’s and coming away with a 2-1 win.

The Cats held a slender one-goal lead at halftime, but saw the advantage slip away early in the second half.

However, with 16 minutes remaining in the game senior Madison Gossi capped a big performance by netting the winning goal and the visitors held on down the stretch with some disciplined and well-organized defense.

“We always know it’s going to be a hard-fought and physical game with St. Bernard’s,” Ferndale head coach Bailey Davy said. “And getting the win on the road in the first league game, that’s big.”

The Crusaders, to their credit, battled hard to the end and could easily have come away with a tie but for a bounce or two here or there.

Regardless of the result, you can expect these two teams to be in the mix for this year’s conference crown.

“I thought we came out sluggish in the first half, and that lack of energy cost us,” St. Bernard’s head coach Jeff Sellars said. “We were a bit chaotic in the second half, but at least we brought more energy.

“But there are still positives to take away from the game. I’m really proud of the way our team battled.”

Freshman Madison Hagemann was instrumental once again for the Cats and has begun her high school career in style, netting yet another goal to give her team a first-half lead, with Gossi assisting on the score.

But the always dangerous Malia Masayos, who also seems to score in just about every game, would tie things up just a few minutes into the second half, ending Ferndale’s five-game shutout streak.

Both goalkeepers did a good job keeping their teams in the game, with freshman Kaitlyn Amis making some key saves for the home team and senior Tinnley Pidgeon equally impressive at the other end of the field.

According to her coach, the young Amis “showed a lot of composure under pressure.”

In front of her, the SB back line of Carli Baum, Chloe Grunden, Paula Bullock and Sahara Tupua did a good job limiting the Ferndale attack’s chances.

Up front for the Crusaders, Masayos worked well with CJ Figas and Macie Wannt, and “kept pressing and creating opportunities, showing great determination and effort,” according to the coach.

In midfield, Eliana Sellars did a good job controlling the middle of the park and helping to set her team’s attacks in motion, alongside Claire Costa and Amber Smith, who both battled hard all game.

“We have to take this as a learning opportunity and move forward,” Jeff Sellars said.

The day, however, belonged to the Wildcats, who have now won six straight games since dropping their season opener.

“I thought that we really settled into the game in the second half,” Davy added. “I thought that we watched the ball a lot in the first half, waiting to react. But in the second half, I think we settled in better.”

Midfielders Macie Hagemann, Claire Renner and Gianna Regli did a good job moving the ball around and helping to initiate the attacks.

Freshman Abigail Gossi assisted her older sister on the winning goal, setting up what could a crucial goal in the race for the league crown.

At the back, senior Michaela Ellsmore also had a big day, as she continues to impress in the heart of the Ferndale defense.

“She’s consistent every single game holding down our back line,” Davy said of the reliable senior. “She’s a great leader to have back there.”