The Fortuna girls got their league campaign off to a winning start against the defending champs on Tuesday, beating Arcata 2-1.
In boys action on Tuesday, Arcata beat Fortuna 1-0 and Eureka traveled to McKinleyville and came away with a 3-2 victory after scoring the winning goal late in the second half.
“Today was a good team win and I could not be not be more proud of how this team continues to battle back and keep going until the final whistle,” Eureka head coach Tommy Learmouth said.
The Fortuna girls started slow and the Tigers enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, but the Huskies would grow into the game and took a one-goal lead when Jozlyn Dahl found the back of the net on a beautiful through ball from teammate Madison Miller.
“Once we settled down, we were able to maintain better possession. However, we were still playing individually,” Fortuna head coach Arnulfo Aguirre said. “Eventually, we settled into a rhythm, started to connect with one another, and started playing as a team.”
That teamwork, according to the coach, paved the way for the opening goal.
The Tigers, however, would respond and netted the equalizer to leave both teams tied 1-1 at the break.
“We relaxed a little too much and allowed Arcata to maintain possession,” Aguirre said. “They found an opening and took advantage of the opportunity.”
The Huskies made some adjustments at halftime and that paid off as the players came out with much more intensity in the second half.
Midfielders Lania Fontaine and Eryn Hunter enjoyed a big second half for Fortuna.
“They settled the ball, controlled the tempo and moved the ball well to their teammates,” their coach said.
Emma Crotty netted the decisive goal for the Huskies, putting them up 2-1, and that would prove to be just enough with the Fortuna defense holding on down the stretch.
“Our defense did their job in the second half by locking it down in the backfield and shutting down Arcata’s attack,” Aguirre said. “Overall, it was a great team performance and I’m happy with how our team played.”
No stats were immediately available for Arcata.
The Eureka boys, meanwhile, improved to 2-0 in league play thanks to D’Alesandro Medina’s game-winning free kick with just three minutes remaining in the game.
There was little to separate two teams that know each other well.
“I thought we played well against a team that we always know brings an intensity level that’s tough to match,” Learmouth said.
The Loggers opened up a two-goal first-half lead within 14 minutes on a pair of goals by Cooper Munson, with Lucas Ask and Levi Grossman assisting on the goals.
But the home team would come storming back before halftime, tying the game on goals from Dillon Vargas and Gaelen Creighton.
The score remained tied until late in the second half.
Check out D’Alesandro Medina’s game-winning free kick below …
“We played well. We controlled well,” McKinleyville head coach Brady Burtchett said. “Their goalie (Mason Beauchamp) made some really good saves, and we made a couple of silly mistakes on defense.
“They took advantage of their opportunities and we didn’t.”
The second half was evenly matched.
“We challenged our team to match the intensity level in the second half and it was a very even game from that point on that could have gone either way,” Learmouth said. “Today it went our way.”
The Eureka coach praised the performance of his goalkeeper and defense, which posted a shut out in the second half.
Up front for Eureka, Munson and Grossman kept the Mack defense on its toes all game long, while the Loggers midfield “continued to come up with big plays when we needed them most,” Learmouth added.
Lucas Jones combined well with Creighton for McKinleyville in the center of the field, while up front Becker Rine continued to show why he is one of the more dangerous. forwards in the H-DNL.
Ayden Burtchett also played well for the Panthers in defense, anchoring the back line.
With the win, the Loggers improved to 2-0 in league play and they are tied with Arcata for top spot in the standings, followed by Fortuna (1-1).
McKinleyville dropped to 0-2.
