After a four-game winless run in late September, the Del Norte boys have rediscovered their form at a good time.
On Saturday night, the Warriors rallied from an early deficit to knock off Cristo Rey De La Salle 3-1 in Oakland in their North Coast Section Division-2 quarterfinal.
The win sets up a semifinal showdown at Eureka on Wednesday night, with the winner advancing to the weekend championship game.
Also in action over the weekend, the Fortuna girls saw their season end on a penalty kick shootout at Eureka in their Division-1 semifinal.
After both school finished 2-2 after overtime, it took a PK shootout to decide which of them advanced to this week’s final, with the home team prevailing 5-4.
The win for the Del Norte boys was their third straight and they have lost just once since that four-game winless streak in September.
“Overall, I am proud of the team for how far they have come from our early- and mid-season struggles,” Del Norte head coach David Sanyaolu said. “We have found our groove and look forward to the semifinal against Eureka.”
Junior Kevin Trujillo was instrumental in Saturday’s win, as the No. 7 seeds knocked off No. 2 Cristo Rey De La Salle.
Trujillo was involved in all three of his team’s goals as the Warriors rallied from an early deficit.
The junior won a penalty kick, which was converted by teammate Giovanni Alvarado to tie the game at 1-1.
Trujillo added two second-half goals, both from inside the box, including a curling shot over the Cristo goalkeeper to close out the scoring.
“It was a great team performance by the boys, especially Kevin,” Sanyaolu said. “I was impressed with how the boys got back in the game after going down 1-0.”
The early goal for the home team, off a free kick, came against the run of play.
“Our intensity and close marking made it hard for the opposition to make much use of the ball,” the Del Norte coach added. “Our keeper was excellent in the very occasions his heroics were needed.”
So too was the Del Norte defense of Ethan Vue, captain David Aguilar, Martin Caseres and Mason Avila.
The winner of Wednesday’s semifinal at Eureka will advance to play either No. 4 Summit K2 or No. 9 Redwood Christian in the weekend final.
And the Warriors are expecting a battle against a Eureka team they are familiar with.
“I think it’s going to be a fantastic match, as we know each other very well as well as what is at stake,” Sanyaolu said. “My boys can’t wait.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Fortuna girls, meanwhile, lost their Division-1 semifinal at Eureka on PKs in what Huskies head coach Arnulfo Aguirre described as “probably one of the best games of the season” on the new all-turf field at Albee Stadium.
“It took us most of the first half to get comfortable on the turf and find our rhythm,” Aguirre said. “In the second half we started playing better and creating chances, but just couldn’t find the back of the net.”
Trailing by a pair of goals, the Huskies refused to give up and closed out regulation the stronger of the two teams with a pair of goals to force overtime.
The team’s opening goal came fro Jozlyn Dahl on a “rocket into the top far corner of the goal,” according to the coach.
“That goal gave the girls the belief that we could come back and tie the game,” Aguirre said. “They continued to push.”
The Huskies; efforts were rewarded when Emma Crotty played a beautiful pass to Madison Miler, who headed home to leave the teams all square.
Both schools battled in overtime but neither was able to get the breakthrough and the game would go to a shootout to decide the winner.
“Unfortunately we came up short in the penalty shootout, but I couldn’t be prouder of this group,” the Fortuna coach added. “The girls played their best game of the season, fought until the very end and showed just how much they have grown throughout the year.
“It’s never easy to see a season end this way, but I’m proud of every single one of them and everything they’ve accomplished.
“They’ve continued to work hard, push each other and grow as a team, and that’s something they should all be proud of.
“A huge congratulations to Eureka on a great game and a fantastic team. Good luck in the final.”
For more on Eureka’s win, see Loggers back in familiar territory; Crusaders end memorable campaign …
