The first-half of the Claremont High School girls soccer match was ending and senior midfielders Megan Renkin and Merin Arft attempted to make an elaborate goal. As Renkin kicked the ball in the air, Arft would pick the perfect moment to use a headshot to redirect it towards the net. She just happened miss it.

There were other opportunities where the Lady Wolfpack could have turned the game in their favor, but their efforts were cut short by Chino Hills High School, ending their senior night with a 4-0 loss. Head coach Tim Tracey gave credit to the Huskies’ talent, but he does not sell his team short based on the outcome.

“I’m very proud of how the team worked,” Tracey said. “Chino Hills just had four opportunities which led to four goals.”

CHS stood strong early on when Chino Hills gave a quick charge towards their territory. Just as when the Huskies almost reached the box, junior forward Julia Cantrell fought them off to gain control.

It was a long standoff, but Chino Hills Ashley Gonzales made the first goal within the 11-minute mark. This sparked the Lady Wolfpack to fight back as junior forwards Cantrell and Ryley Settles used great footwork to pass the Huskies midfield; however, they were stopped again by that unbreakable barrier.

Senior midfielder Madison Stark knew something had to change being behind in the first-half, 2-0.

“In the first-half, we were a little slow so we needed to find a way to break through the pressure in the second-half,” Stark said.

The second-half was a mixture of individual duals, whether it was Settles against Chino Hills Dayna Garcia or Stark against Chino Hills Amanda Ball. This still did not stop the Huskies from making their third goal, 3-0.

The audience was still cheering for CHS especially when there were few questionable uncalled penalties against the Huskies. Furious, Navarro helped sophomore goalkeeper Sydney Fortson save a goal and gave large roar, commanding her team to return to Huskie territory.

Chua also counterattacked with a defensive head maneuver to get the ball within the Huskies’ box, but it was quickly diverted by another goal made by Chino Hills, 4-0. Despite knowing their fate in the last ten minutes, it did not stop them from fighting back.

“We had to get everything out on the field but there was nothing we can do,” Chua said.

The Lady Wolfpack now looks forward to ruin Charter Oak’s senior night at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, which is their last league game until the playoffs. Their overall record is 15-8-2; Sierra League record is 5-4-0.

—Alex Forbess