Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The three Arcata captains, from left to right, Zoe Leonard, Bailey Cherms and Zakiya Elloway.

Tigers senior midfielder Bailey Cherms sent her teammates and the Arcata fans into a frenzy with a brilliant strike just seven minutes into sudden death overtime of Wednesday’s North Coast Section girls soccer playoff game at Albee Stadium.

The goal gave the Tigers a 2-1 win over Eureka, and sees them advance to this weekend’s championship game.

Cherms netted the winner from well outside the penalty area and close to the sideline, sending her shot sailing over the head of Eureka goalie Kellina Pratton, who played well for the Loggers all night.

“I think that’s in the top two high school games I’ve ever seen,” said long-time Arcata head coach Patrick Stranahan. “It really was. You couldn’t ask for any more from either team.”

The game was an instant classic, and one the players and fans who were there won’t forget anytime soon.

Particularly Cherms.

For more on the game, see Tigers edge the Loggers in instant NCS classic …

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Ray Hamill writes at humboldtsports.com, where you can read lots more about sports in Humboldt County.