Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

Defending H-DNL champion Fortuna got the new league campaign off to a winning start in boys soccer on Wednesday, as the Huskies swept the boys and girls games from Del Norte on opening night.

The Arcata and Eureka girls each also won their matchups, with the Tigers defeating the South Fork Cubs 6-1 in Miranda, and the Loggers winning 5-0 against McKinleyville at Albee Stadium.

For more on the Eureka girls win, see Loggers start fast, shut out Panthers …

The Eureka boys made it a sweep for the home team with a 3-0 win over McKinleyville.

For more on the Eureka boys win, see Eureka boys impress in league opener …

Boys

Del Norte 0, Fortuna 2

The Huskies battled to a two-goal win over the team that pushed them all the way a year ago, improving to 6-0 on the season (1-0 in league).

Fernando Atilano netted both goals for the Huskies, who also missed a penalty kick.

“We were sluggish at times,” Fortuna head coach Daniel Holmes said. “We’re trying to get them to be more consistent the whole match.”

Sophomore Antonio Garcinuno had a big game in the center of the field, while Atilano picked up just where he left off a year ago with another spectacular performance.

“Sometimes I don’t know how the ball sticks to his feet,” Holmes said of the junior standout.

Holmes also praised the Del Norte goalkeeper for doing an outstanding job and keeping his team in the game.

Girls

Del Norte 1, Fortuna 4

The Huskies broke open a scoreless game with four second-half goals as they kicked off league play on a winning note.

Sarah Killfoil netted twice and had an assist in the win, while Mollie Hernandez had a goal and an assist.

Aubrie Hall, who was instrumental in the second-half turnaround, also had a goal, while Nyah Cacren and Darly Diaz each added an assist.

“I would definitely say Del Norte outplayed us in the first half. They were faster to the ball,” Fortuna head coach Kathleen Lynch said. “But I was pretty happy with the second half. We had some players pick up the intensity, which we needed.”

In particular, Killfoil and Hall picked up the pace of the game after the interval.

Defensively, Sarah Hohman also had a big night anchoring the back line, alongside the impressive Ava Leonardo, while Cacren also had a big second half in midfield.

“I was happy with the adjustments we made,” Lynch said. 

Jadence Clifton scored Del Norte’s lone goal, as she continues to make an impressive transition to the soccer field.

Defensively for the Warriors, Melanie Alvarado, Payton Machado and Leslie Cerros all played well as the Del Norte back line kept a dangerous Fortuna attack in check for much of the game.

Up front for Del Norte, Lanaeya Botelho also caused problems for the Fortuna defense with some dangerous shots on goal throughout.

Arcata 6, South Fork 1

The Tigers got their season off to a winning start in Miranda with a five-goal win.

The Cubs grew into the game and turned in a better second half, with freshman standout Summer Contreras continuing her blistering start to the season with her seventh goal in four games.

Contreras scored on free kick late in the game to prevent the shutout.

South Fork goalie Lyndsee Brewer was kept busy as the Tigers dominated possession, but did a good job keeping the score respectable and finished with 16 saves.

“We settled down and got more organized in the second half,” South Fork head coach Ann Constantino said. 

Senior Mirna Navarrete and Juniors Alahni Christianson and Franny Genolio were outstanding in defense for South Fork, while freshman Kayla Berteaux was a strong presence in the midfield.

The Cubs improved to 2-2.

No details were available for Arcata.

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