Countering Ferndale’s physical play with superior speed, the Oak Harbor High School soccer team defeated the Golden Eagles 3-0 Saturday, Sept. 13, at Wildcat Memorial Stadium.

It didn’t take long for Oak Harbor to strike.

Caylie Etherington, off an assist from Mary Johnston, scored 26 second into the match.

Johnson scored minutes later off a pass from Lydia Peplinski.

Jen Turnek rifled in a left-footed shot from 30 yards out midway through the first half to finish the scoring.

Meanwhile, the Oak Harbor defense, led by keeper Ayla Muller, blanked Ferndale.

“Ferndale didn’t have a ton of opportunities until late in the second half,” Oak Harbor coach Mike Lonborg said.

“The five-man rotating defensive line of Nalani Gabbert, Becca Pabona, Alyssa Cross, Suzanne Kaltenbach and Paige Waterman held strong the entire game,” he added.

Lonborg called his team’s effort “solid” against a quality opponent that is “much closer to what we will see in league play.”

Oak Harbor defeated Lakewood, a smaller school, 6-1 in its first match.

Lonborg said his club expected a physical match with the Golden Eagles (1-1-1), but “it surpassed our expectations.”

“Ferndale was very big and very strong but had a tough time against our speed,” he said.

Oak Harbor (2-0) heads to Lynnwood (0-2) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16.