ARCATA — Clear Lake High School’s senior-dominated girls soccer squad closed out a successful season with a 6-0 loss to the Arcata Tigers on Saturday afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the North Coast Section Division 1 playoffs at Arcata.
The sixth-seeded Cardinals (8-5-1), North Central League I co-champions this year, kept the game close until deep into the second half when the Tigers scored three goals in rapid succession to open up a 6-0 lead.
“Their precision and passing were unrivaled,” Clear Lake head coach Derick Fiske said of the third-seeded Tigers (8-4-1), the Humboldt-Del Norte Big 5 runner-up this season.
Combine that with a slippery grass field saturated by overnight rain and torn up by the Lower Lake-Arcata boys game that preceded the Cardinals’ contest with the Tigers, and it was treacherous footing for both teams, according to Fiske.
“There are only so many times you can run in the deep mud and not get exhausted,” Fiske said. “The field was pretty well demolished by the time we got out there. One side was way worse and we had the good side in the first half. It was an eye opener to see what winter ball is truly like if you’re not playing on an artificial surface.”
Clear Lake and Arcata were scoreless until the 12-minute mark of the first half when the Tigers broke through for a 1-0 lead. They added a second goal only minutes later despite the best efforts of Cardinals keeper Kiley Bartell, who had a busy day in the net.
“Kiley was making save after save,” Fiske said. “We felt pretty good about going to the half down only 2-0.”
The Tigers pushed their advantage to 3-0 with a goal in the first minute of the second half and that’s where the game remained until Arcata went on a three-goal spree with 10 minutes remaining.
“Three goals in like three minutes,” Fiske said. “It was a tough way to end it. There were a lot of heavy hearts out there.”
And not just because their season was over, Fiske said.
“I spent the last few minutes just soaking it all in,” Fiske said. “A lot of my players said they noticed how quiet I was. I was remembering all the time I’ve spent with these players down through the years. I saw the pain in my daughter’s face (senior Ashton Fiske). They were hurting, but it means this meant something to them. For many it’s the last time they’ll put a uniform on.”
Fiske said his veteran players certainly distinguished themselves in their final game despite the outcome.
“Ashton, Grace (Gomez), Nancy (Ruzicka), Anyssa (Perez), Brianna (Knight) and Kiley all played well,” Fiske said.
“Their pain will go away in a couple of weeks but the (league) banner they won this season will be there the rest of their lives,” Fiske said.
Arcata plays No. 7 seed Fortuna in Wednesday’s semifinals. Fortuna upset No. 2 seed Credo 5-0 in quarterfinal-round action Saturday.
In other girls playoff action Saturday:
McKinleyville 2, Middletown 0
At Middletown, the fifth-seeded McKinleyville Panthers upset the fourth-seeded Middletown Mustangs in Saturday night quarterfinal action at Bill Foltmer Field.
Middletown, the NCL I co-champion this year, closes out the season at 10-4.
“The girls had a great game and fought hard,” Middletown head coach Ashlyn Welton said.
McKinleyville (13-7-1) draws No. 1 seed Eureka (13-0-2) in the semifinals Wednesday night.
Boys playoffs
Arcata 5, Lower Lake 2
At Arcata, the undefeated Arcata Tigers (16-0-3) ended Lower Lake’s season in the quarterfinal round of the Division 1 boys playoffs.
Arcata, the Humboldt-Del Norte Big 5 champion, led 4-0 at halftime.
“The first half was pretty much a mud bog,” Lower Lake head coach Michael McMurtrey said of the field conditions. “There was no traction.”
Lower Lake accidentally knocked the ball into the net for one of Arcata’s first-half goals. The Tigers also scored on a penalty kick that McMurtrey called “questionable.”
Added McMurtrey, “It started sliding downhill from there.”
Lower Lake’s coach said his team played well given the opposition and a field soaked by overnight rain.
“We played with a lot of heart,” McMurtrey said. “They’re a physical team. They move the ball real well and with good communication. My hat’s off to them.”
Justin Santana scored both of Lower Lake’s goals in the second half. The first one cut Arcata’s lead to 4-1, the second made it a 5-2 game.
Looking back on his team’s 7-5 overall record and second-place finish in the NCL I standings behind undefeated champion Middletown, McMurtrey said, “No one thought we’d do this.”
Making Waves Academy 3, Middletown 1
At Richmond, NCL I champion Middletown’s season ended with a loss to No. 3 seed Making Waves Academy of Richmond.
Middletown (12-4), the No. 6 seed, beat Fort Bragg 3-2 in overtime in opening-round action Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals.
No other details were reported.
Making Waves Academy plays No. 2 seed Arcata in Wednesday’s semifinals.
