By Ray Hamill — The Crusaders had this one circled on their calendars.
After losing all five of their games against their biggest rivals last year, including all three league matchups and a North Coast Section playoff showdown, the St. Bernard’s girls came into Wednesday evening’s game against visiting Ferndale with a steely determination.
And they did not disappoint, pulling away in the second half of a Redwood League clash on the way to a 3-1 win.
“We’ve been game-planning the heck out of this,” said SB head coach Brandon Amis, who admitted this is one matchup he loses sleep over. “Ferndale’s no joke.”
With the win, the St. Bernard’s girls improved to 3-0 in league play, while Ferndale dropped to 1-1-1.
“I honestly thought we played very well,” Ferndale head coach Sam Licona said. “We were organized, possessing, attacking, but like I told the girls, that’s the way soccer goes sometimes.”
As you would expect from these two rivals, who between them have won NCS titles in each of the past six seasons, there was little to separate the two teams for much of the game.
Both sides enjoyed good possession and moved the ball well at times, and both defenses appeared up to the challenge with clearcut goal-scoring chances at a premium.
But a pair of opportunistic goals by the home team after the break was enough to see them pull away for the win, and with the SB back line overcoming adversity and rising to the challenge there was no way back for the visitors after that.
It didn’t take long to break the early deadlock, with freshman Kinley Johnson finding the back of the net on a nice volley just six minutes in after the industrious Malia Masayos won possession, passed to teammate CJ Figas, who sent a high cross into the box.
The game was back-and-froth for much of the opening half, with each team enjoying good possession.
But it was the Crusaders who created the better opportunities, while their defense forced the visitors into long range opportunities, most of which did little to challenge a goalkeeper of the quality of Kaitlyn Amis, who comfortably gathered just about everything that came her way.
But the Wildcats’ persistence paid off eight minutes from halftime, when Teresa Catana-Moreno found the back of the net on a well-placed shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Tenacious sophomore Madison Hagemann set up her teammate for the goal, after winning possession in the heart of the SB defense.
The teams would remain tied at the break, but once again it didn’t take long for the home team to break the deadlock a second time early in the second half, when Figas netted from a long range shot from out near the sideline.
Masayos would double the lead midway through the period, heading over goalkeeper Makenzie Chambers after a deep ball into Ferndale territory.
Kaitlyn Amis and the St. Bernard’s defense would hold firm down the stretch despite losing influential central defender Carli Baum to an injury.
In her place, the outstanding Emilyn Wilson moved from fullback to the center of the defense and turned in what her head coach described as a player of the game performance.
“She was rock solid the whole game,” Brandon Amis said. “She stepped into Carli’s spot and she played lights out the whole game.
“I’m telling you, this defense is pretty good.”
Center back Paula Bullock and left fullback Paloma Granados both looked comfortable in possession for much of the game, with the latter setting multiple attacks in motion with her penetrating passes, particularly early in the second half.
Up front, the experienced Figas and Masayos worked well together and kept the Ferndale back line on its toes, with Figas working tirelessly off the ball and tracking back well to help set up numerous attacks.
Johnson and fellow freshman Kate Bailey in midfield both also excelled and look like they could have a big impact for the team over the next four years.
Brandon Amis, however, felt his team struggled a little in the second quarter of the game, before reestablishing themselves after halftime.
“I thought the adjustments we talked about at halftime were taken incredibly well,” the St. Bernard’s coach said. “And I thought we played incredible in the second half.”
Young Bailey looked as composed as anyone on the field despite having played just a handful of games at the high school level.
“I’ve been pushing her to do a lot of things and she does really good job distributing and being our center piece,” the coach said.
Brandon Amis added that Figas’ “on ball and off ball movement is incredible,” and that Masayos is “one of the most selfless strikers I’ve ever met.”
Senior Chloe Grunden, who replaced Wilson at right back, also impressed, showcasing the depth of options the Crusaders have at the back.
There were several standouts for the Wildcats as well, including sophomore Madison Hagemann, who looked as composed as ever in attack after missing most of the early season through injury.
“You can tell the difference when she’s out on the pitch,” Licona said of the reigning league MVP
Her older sister, junior Macie Hagemann, also enjoyed plenty of good possession, while Catana-Moreno caused problems for the SB defense, as did Arlene Glines and Macie Wantt in midfield, the latter of whom was facing her old teammates after transferring to Ferndale this year.
Claire Renner also made her presence felt with another impressive game in defense, as did Gianna Regli in midfield and fullbacks Willow Wantt and Teren Titus.
