File photo – Teresa Catana, left, and Claire Renner are both playing key roles for the Wildcats this fall.
A remarkable season for the Ferndale girls soccer team is showing no signs of slowing down.
On Saturday, the Wildcats got the better of a Big 4 powerhouse for the second straight weekend, as they stretched their unbeaten run to 11 straight games, 10 of which they have won.
The Ferndale girls, who beat Eureka the previous Saturday, hosted a shorthanded Arcata team and won 5-0, posting their eighth shutout in their past 11 games.
“Overall, it was a great performance today,” Ferndale head coach Bailey Davy said after the win. “The girls came out focused and ready to play.”
They certainly did.
The Cats opened the scoring two minutes in when freshman Madison Hagemann netted the first of her three goals on the day from a Madison Gossi throw in.
“Scoring so quickly set the tone for the rest of the game,” Davy said. “A boost of confidence and control right out of the gate.”
Hagemann, who has been a catalyst up front all season and has begun her high school career in dynamic fashion, doubled the Wildcats’ advantage later in the half, before Teresa Catana made it 3-0 off another assist from Gossi, and Ferndale led 3-0 at the break.
Catana turned provider in the second half, setting up Hagemann for her third goal, before another freshman, Arlene Glines, closed out the scoring with her first high school goal.
With influential junior Gianna Regli still sidelined through injury, Catana, Macie Hagemann and Claire Renner have helped pick up the slack in the middle of the field and have established themselves as key playmakers for the team.
“I’ve been really impressed with Macie, Teresa and Claire as our playmakers,” Davy said. “The three of them have been playing really well together.”
Sweeper Michaela Ellsmore also continued to play a key role for the Cats in the heart of defense and didn’t let much past her, according to the coach.
“She was able to shut down any threat in Arcata’s attack today,” Davy said. “The defense as a whole played a tight game.”
The Tigers had just seven players to finish the game, which obviously played a role, something the Cats can sympathize with after playing much of last season with just nine players.
“I commend them for their efforts today,” Davy said. “We know the feeling all too well. If anyone can sympathize and relate to their team today, it would definitely be us.”
With the win, Ferndale improved to improved to 10-1-1.
