CAIRNS, Australia — Grace Johnson’s senior year at NCAA Division II Cal Poly Humboldt is off to a good start.
The Nordland product is Chimacum High School’s all-time leading girls soccer goal scorer and was the leading goal scorer for the NWAC-champion Peninsula Pirates in 2021.
Johnson and her Cal Poly Humboldt teammates, including Port Angeles’ Millie Long, recently traveled to Australia for some exhibition games and to take in a couple of 2023 Women’s World Cup contests.
Cal Poly Humboldt earned a 2-2 draw against the semi-professional Sydney Olympic FC and blasted Edge Hill United FC 6-0, with Johnson notching a pair of goals.
“I’ve really been working on my one-on-one abilities and there was a lot of open space, especially in the middle of the field,” Johnson told the Cal Poly Humboldt Athletics web site. “I saw the opportunities to take the shots and I thought ‘Why not?’. Got two goals and am very excited.”
Attended World Cup
The squad also saw France play Panama on Aug. 2 and Netherlands take on South Africa on Aug. 6 in the round of 16.
The LumberJacks will aim to keep their momentum going as they host three home exhibition matches before their season begins on August 31.
“We have a lot of talented individuals on this team,” Johnson said. “This trip has been a really great opportunity for us to forge so many good friendships and relationships on and off the field. We’re just building to a very special season. I’m so excited for all these girls and for us as a team.”
Johnson also has shined in the classroom at Cal Poly Humboldt earning All-Academic honors from the California Collegiate Athletic Association for posting a GPA of 3.4 or higher and earning a varsity letter.
🧵(7/8): Grace Johnson gets her second goal of the night and pads the Lumberjack lead over Edge Hill. 5-0 ‘Jacks ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/ZUthqfx9Vp
— Cal Poly Humboldt Women’s Soccer (@Humboldt_WSOC) August 9, 2023
