By Ray Hamill — While winning a league title might be just out of reach at this stage, the Eureka Loggers look like they could be poised for a successful run in the upcoming North Coast Section boys soccer playoffs.
Head coach Tommy Learmouth has a mostly healthy squad at his disposal — finally — as the Loggers are beginning to find their groove, and this is a group of players that are relishing the challenge and believe in themselves.
On Wednesday, the Eureka boys were held to a 0-0 tie against Del Norte, a result that leaves them still in contention for a first league title since 2009.
With a record of 8-3-1 in league play (25 points), Eureka is tied with Fortuna for second in the standings, but both schools trail the Arcata Tigers (10-1-1, 31 points), who clinched at least a share of this year’s title with a 9-0 win at Ferndale on Tuesday, with two games remaining for each.
Eureka will face the Tigers at Arcata on Saturday, before traveling to play Ferndale next week, while the Tigers will also play at McKinleyville next week and Fortuna’s remaining games are at Del Norte and against St. Bernard’s.
If the Loggers can take care of business at Arcata — they are 1-2 against the Tigers this season — they will need the Panthers to do them a favor and beat Arcata next week while also winning at Ferndale.
“We’re not completely out of the league race, but we can’t afford to slip up, and we need some help,” Learmouth said. “We have our fingers crossed and we’re taking it one game at a time. We know how important Saturday is.”
A plethora of injuries have not helped matters for Eureka this season, but that might actually benefit this team in the NCS playoffs.
At one stage Learmouth was missing eight of his 21 players, but the squad is mostly healthy heading into the business end of the campaign, and many of the younger players gained some valuable experience during the injury setbacks, which leaves this team better prepared for the upcoming postseason tournament.
And the squad depth is a good problem to have right now.
“I have 15 or 16 guys that can start on any given day and five or six more that can play meaningful minutes,” the Eureka coach said. “In that way, I would say the injuries have been good.”
The team has also shown a lot of resilience this season.
The Loggers started the year with three straight losses, but have dropped just four of their 15 games since then.
They have also matched up well against their biggest league rivals, posting wins over Arcata, Fortuna (twice), McKinleyville and Del Norte along the way.
And a healthy Loggers team is a team no one will want to face in the postseason, providing they can find some consistency, which they appear to be doing.
(A win or a tie at Arcata on Saturday would give them their longest unbeaten run of the season.)
“It’s been really up and down,” Learmouth said of the campaign. “In the first couple of games we didn’t start well and it just felt like they weren’t clicking, and then we battled some injuries.
“We had to figure out how to get healthy, and I feel like we’re finally there. It feels like we’re finally starting to hit our stride.”
It’s also a group of players that is embracing the challenge, and a dangerous attack that has been shut out just three times in 18 games this season is causing problems for every opponent.
“I think where we’re really good is we’re able to take what other teams are giving us,” Learmouth said. “We’re definitely creating a lot of chances. We sometimes struggle taking those chances, but we’re continuing to create chances which shows the intensity they have and the drive to win.”
Defensively, the Loggers are also improving.
This month, the Eureka defense, along with outstanding goalie Mason Beauchamp, have given up more than one goal just once in six games, after doing so six times over the first 12 games.
That improved defense has been anchored by senior team captains Kyan Green and Luiz Gonzalez, while Beauchamp is widely regarded as one of the best shot stoppers in the league.
“If you ask me, he’s the best goalkeeper in league,” Learmouth said without hesitation of the junior standout. “I’m always impressed by him.”
Junior team captain Lucas Ask also is playing a key role in midfield — both with his play and leadership — while sophomore D’Alessandro Medina might be playing about as well as any young player in the H-DNL right now.
“Lucas Ask has kind of been our vocal leader on the field,” Learmouth said. “He’s a rock out there, and he dictates play.”
Medina is one of the smartest players in league.
“He has a lot of skill and he has such a high soccer IQ,” the Eureka coach added of the sophomore midfielder. “He has some of the best vision I’ve ever seen from a soccer player his age. He’s a very special player.”
Up front, senior Cooper Munson has been setting the tone for his teammates with his tenacious play.
“His presence is helping us create chances,” Learmouth said of the industrious forward, who continually wins possession in opponents’ territory. “I’m proud of the resilience he keeps showing.”
Another senior, Jerome Everta, also is making an impact since returning from injury after moving from defense to a more forward role.
“He’s found that little niche for himself,” Learmouth said. “When he’s not on the field, we miss the intensity he brings.”
The Larson brothers — Greyden, a senior outside back, and Landon, a junior midfielder/forward — are also making their presence felt.
Learmouth describes Larson as a “very technical player who is growing into his body and finding a physicality.”
Several other players have also stepped up their game while the Loggers battled adversity this fall, including junior Tytan Blair-Zimmer and sophomore Mansoor Khan, two players “that have come into their own this year,” according to the coach, and are finding their confidence, as well as sophomore midfielder/forward Logan Hunter, who has been battling injury, and sophomore Bryce Pope, a player who is better known for baseball but is enjoying a good fall on the soccer fields.
“It’s a well-balanced squad,” Learmouth said. “The best thing about this season is feeling confident we can win close games and it doesn’t matter who I put out there.
“I think we have a really strong core, a very skillful team and a lot of guys that are hungry.
“They want to learn from their mistakes. They want to get better.”
They also want to beat Arcata to keep their slim league championship hopes alive.
“These guys are pumped,” Learmouth added. “I definitely like to see their energy at practice.”
