Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Action from Tuesday’s game between St. Bernard’s and Del Norte.

The Ferndale girls started fast and never looked back on Tuesday afternoon, as they stretched their unbeaten run to 10 straight games and moved further clear at the top of the Little 4 standings.

The Cats welcomed South Fork to Ferndale and won 5-0, improving to 3-0 in conference and 9-1-1 overall.

Also in action on Tuesday, Del Norte traveled to Eureka to play St. Bernard’s and came away with a share of the spoils after a late equalizer in a 1-1 game.

Standout Ferndale freshman Madison Hagemann netted the first of her two goals in the opening minute and the high-flying Cats never looked back.

“The girls looked very comfortable out there today,” Ferndale heads coach Bailey Davy said. “They’re playing some of their best soccer right now and it’s really fun to watch.”

The in-form Teresa Catana also scored twice in the win, with influential sophomore Macie Hagemann rounding out the scoring, netting from a well-placed through ball from Madison Gossi.

But while the Ferndale attack provided plenty of offense, this was a victory that was secured with a good day from the midfield and another clean sheet for goalkeeper Tinnley Pidgeon and the team defense, which has now remarkably shut out seven of its 11 opponents this year and has allowed more than one goal just once since an opening-day defeat to Kelseyville.

And the Cats are doing this despite missing key junior Gianna Regli, who is still sidelined through injury, although her teammates are “collectively picking top the slack,” according to the coach.

The ever-dangerous Claire Renner also had a big game anchoring the defense at stopper and also drifting forward more to help initiate the attack.

“She was all over the field tonight,” Davy said.

The loss was the third in conference play for the Cubs, but head coach Beth Anderson is seeing plenty of improvement from her team.

“I’m really proud of how the girls stayed positive and continued to work together and support each other today,” the South Fork coach said. “They continue to improve their passing game and ball skills with every match we play.

“We just need to capitalize more on our offensive opportunities.”

In defense, Molly Perkins, Kamea Hawkins and Aubrey Young all played well for the visitors, limiting the opportunities for a dangerous Ferndale attack, while Kara Worswick, Calleigh Smith and Zoe Bignon all continued to impress in midfield.

At St. Bernard’s, meanwhile, the Crusaders and Warriors shared the spoils in very windy conditions, with each team enjoying a greater share of possession when they had the wind at their back.

Eliana Sellars, one of the most dangerous forwards in conference this year, opened the scoring for the hosts on a first-half penalty kick, but Elisabeth Lopez would equalize for the Warriors late in the game on a long range effort that sailed into the top of the net.

“It was a tough, physical match from start to finish, and our group showed a lot of heart and composure, particularly in the first half,” St. Bernard’s head coach Jeff Sellars said. “However, I thought we lost our fight, and then the momentum, in the second half.”

The conditions appeared to play a part in that.

“I think the wind had a lot to do with who was doing well,” Del Norte head coach Shawn Eckart said. “It was a battle, and I think both teams were frustrated with the wind.”

The St. Bernard’s defense did a good limiting their opponents’ opportunities, with the unit of Paula Bullock, Sahara Tupua, Carli Baum and Chloe Grunden winning key tackles and keeping their shape under pressure.

And they weren’t alone.

“In the midfield, Alyssa Boham did a great job controlling tempo and connecting passes, while Amber Smith worked tirelessly breaking up plays and driving us forward,” Jeff Sellars said. 

Claire Costa also impressed for the home team and was a continual threat up front while also tracking back.

Out wide, CJ Figas and Eliana Sellars both “brought great energy on the wings,” according to the coach, stretching the field, creating chances and working hard defensively.

Eckart, meanwhile, was impressed with his players’ collective resiliency.

“I thought my girls stayed tough after the penalty shot,” the Del Norte coach said. “Even against the wind, they stayed tough. They just kept at it and stayed with it.”

The Del Norte defense did a good job holding a dangerous and talented SB front line without a goal from play.

“Our defensive line was sticking together, which was good to see,” Eckart added.