The Eureka Loggers celebrated Senior Day with a league-clinching win on Saturday.
With a 4-2 victory over their closest challengers, Fortuna, the Eureka girls improved to 5-0 in league play (15 points) with one game remaining.
The loss, which was their second to Eureka in league play, dropped the Huskies to 4-2 (12 points).
In non-league action on Saturday, Arcata scored late to tie Del Norte 1-1 and Ferndale defeated McKinleyville 2-0.
The game of the day, however, took place at Albee Stadium as the Loggers continued to showcase why they have been the best team in the H-DNL this season and improved to 11-1 overall.
The game was evenly matched through the opening half and the two teams were tied 1-1 at the break.
But the home team would outscore the visitors 3-1 in a high-scoring second half to secure the victory, including a goal with just seconds remaining in the game.
“Always a physical and challenging game against Fortuna, and our gils held their own incredibly well,” Eureka head coach Melaina Valdez said.
The Huskies led early in the second half, but the Loggers would close out the game with three unanswered goals.
“Even though the result didn’t go our way, I was proud of how the girls competed and the way we came out in the second half,” Fortuna head coach Arnulfo Aguirre said. “We showed that we could create chances and put pressure on a tough team, and sometimes the game just doesn’t go your way.”
Kyla Benzinger and Ella Moxon each scored twice for Eureka, while goalkeeper Lola Distefano played a huge role in the win, making four “amazing saves,” according to the coach, on Fortuna breakaways.
The Loggers enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, but the visitors adjusted to the all-turf field as the game wore on.
“Eureka came out stronger than us, and it took us a little while to get comfortable playing on the new turf field,” Aguirre said. “Once we found our groove, we started creating chances but just couldn’t convert them.”
Brooklyn Gonzalez came closest to opening Fortuna’s account with a free kick that was tipped onto the crossbar.
However, the visitors’ hard work paid off shortly before halftime when Tayla Fontaine scored after a goal mouth scramble from a corner kick.
Jozlyn Dahl gave the Huskies the lead in the second half on a floater that sailed over the goalkeeper’s head and into the back of the net, but the advantage was short-lived.
“I’m happy with the way we played and the effort the girls put in, and we’ll keep building on this performance moving forward,” Aguirre said.
Among the standouts for the Loggers, Olivianna Millender had a good game at outside back to help anchor the home defense.
Millender is one of four seniors the team honored before kickoff, a group that also includes Jasmin Chavez, Gavilan Loetterle and Maddie Van Vleck.
At Arcata, the Tigers pulled out an impressive tie with a late goal.
Just minutes from time, Ava Deyhim played a beautiful cross to the right, where Ada Kinziger fought off a defender and the goalkeeper to slot home for a share of the spoils.
“We are playing good (soccer),” Arcata head coach Matthew Ingram said. “The passing game is our strength.”
There were several standouts in what was a back-and-forth game with little to separate the two teams, including Arcata senior goalkeeper Melody Arguelles-Diaz.
The Tigers defense, which was led by senior captain Lucy Buchheister, was up for the challenge and enjoyed a good day against one of hottest teams in the H-DNL and a side that has not lost in nine games.
Vivian Adams and Hazel Ray each also impressed on the back line for the home team, “with smart consistent play,” according to the coach, as did freshman Alia Collins, who is quickly establishing herself at the varsity level.
“She seemed to be everywhere today,” Ingram said of the young Collins.
Deyhim and Joey Kimber-Roach also impressed for the Tigers on the wings, and they combined well with team captain Amabel Miranda in the middle of the field.
The Arcata players continued to battle despite trailing for much of the second half and their hard work paid off.
“I truly feel we play better (soccer) with our backs against the wall,” Ingram said, adding “so proud we don’t give up.”
The Ferndale girls, meanwhile, traveled to McKinleyville and came away with a shutout victory.
The always-dangerous Teresa Catana-Moreno scored both goals, with teammate Madison Hagemann assisting on both.
It was an impressive team performance for the Cats, who appear to be peaking at the right time, as they get set for the upcoming North Coast Section playoffs.
“Overall performance was the best soccer I think we’ve played in a while,” Ferndale head coach Sam Licona said. “The movement off the ball, the passing, trusting each other, going forward, defensively, everything was great.”
The win, according to the coach, was a team effort with every player on the field contributing.
“I was proud of the performance and I think it’s just a step moving forward,” Licona added.
