MC RALLIES TO WIN IN NCS postseason - Marin Independent Journal

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MC RALLIES TO WIN IN NCS postseason

Green scores nine times in 14-11 victory against Marin Academy

Marin Catholic players celebrate their come-from-behind victory over Marin Academy in Thursday’s NCS D-1 quarterfinal in Kentfield. PHOTOS BY D. ROSS CAMERON — SPECIAL TO THE MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL

Marin Catholic goaltender Gianna Rinaldi (30) saves a shot on goal by Marin Academy midfielder Steph Zola (14) during the second quarter of Thursday’s NCS D-1 quarterfinal in Kentfield.

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By Derek Wilson

dewilson@marinij.com

Time hasn’t dulled the emotions in the neighborhood rivalry between the Wildcats, two schools separated by less than 2 miles and a hill.

The two teams played like champions, but only one would continue in the postseason. Elsa Greene scored six goals in the second half and finished with a career-best nine scores as fourth-seeded Marin Catholic rallied past No. 5 Marin Academy, 14-11, in Thursday’s North Coast Section Division I quarterfinal matchup.

Marin Catholic will face the winner of Thursday night’s contest between No. 1 San Ramon Valley and No. 9 San Marin. Marin Catholic holds wins over both teams. No. 2 Redwood defeated No. 7 Monte Vista 10-4 in another quarterfinal. No. 6 Tam was also in action late Thursday night. That result was not available at press time.

“We beat SRV before (11-10 on March 15), so we know that’s winnable,” Greene said. “We know we’re going to play a good team.”

Marin Academy head coach Cori Conner had hoped to win another NCS title for her seniors, who were just freshmen when MA last held the crown when they beat Campolindo in the 2022 Division II championship. MA, which advanced to the NCS D-II semifinals in 2023, was making its second consecutive D-I playoff appearance this season.

“This is the first team I’ve had where I’ve had players all the way from freshmen to seniors, not taking over for another coach,” Conner said. “From a selfish point of view, I’ve seen them grow all four years. This group is special.”

Marin Academy (16-5) won the Bay Counties League title last Friday after an undefeated league season. Marin Catholic (19-4) earned the MCAL title with a stunning 9-6 victory over Redwood on Saturday, and has kept the momentum rolling into the NCS tournament.

“I was a little nervous playing Marin Academy,” Greene admitted. “I looked at their roster and saw a bunch of really good players, girls I know.”

Greene looked across the field and saw teammates and foes — and all of them friends. Wildcats from both schools, which have the same mascot, have played together during the club season and grown up together on the playing fields, basketball courts and swimming pools of Marin County.

Marin Catholic’s Brooke Spagnuolo and Marin Academy’s Reese Goodenough had a postgame laugh after both scored three goals Thursday.

“The Goodenough family is just that, good enough, and better,” Spagnuolo said.

The two teams last played each other in 2023 when Marin Catholic won 10-7.

Marin Academy’s Elsa Anderson slipped the ball around the right post for the opening goal on Thursday, just 35 seconds into the contest. Stephanie Zola followed 2 minutes later with the first of her team-high four goals. Marin Academy recovered a ground ball at the opposite end of the field and got the ball to Reese Goodenough for the first of her three goals and a 3-0 lead over Marin Catholic.

Greene netted a pair of penalty shots to close the score to 3-2 midway through the first quarter.

Marin Academy’s high-pressure play forced a turnover by Marin Catholic goalkeeper Gianna Rinaldi, who was playing well out of the crease, and Sadie Goodenough ran the ball in for an easy goal. Another turnover, this time at the other end of the field, led to Zola’s second goal of the day just before the end of the first quarter for a 5-2 Marin Academy lead.

Marin Catholic recovered to start the second quarter, with three unanswered goals by Greene, Libby Irving and Spagnuolo to tie the game.

Anderson recovered a loose ball to the side of the net following her blocked penalty shot, and snuck the ball past Rinaldi to give Marin Academy a 6-5 lead. Zola converted on a pair of 8-meter shots, and Sadie Goodenough, in traffic in front of the crease, snapped the ball into the net to give Marin Academy a 9-5 halftime lead.

Marin Academy’s attack crashed against Marin Catholic’s defense in the second half, with the Wildcats adding only two goals in the fourth quarter. Marin Academy had 20 shots in the first half, but just 10 in the second half.

Rinaldi had 10 saves in the Marin Catholic net, while Marin Academy goalkeepers Harper Potts and Kenzie Cain had a pair of saves each.

“We made some tweaks on the draw in the second half to get the ball to the outside and have a better chance of moving the ball on offense,” Trahan said.

Marin Catholic, in the meantime, found the right combination on offense. Spagnuolo threaded the needle for the opening goal of the third quarter, and Marin Catholic followed with goals from Greene and Lexie Schmidt. Greene took a pass from Spagnuolo for a bouncer into the net that tied the game 9-9 with 1:42 left in the third quarter. Greene and Marin Catholic took advantage of a power play for the go-ahead goal with 20 seconds left in the quarter.

“When you’re playing two players down, the odds are not in your favor,” Conner said.

A strike from Spagnuolo 2 minutes into the final quarter helped put Marin Catholic ahead for good. Reese Goodenough scored on a 12-meter setup to cut the score to a one-goal difference, but Greene came back with a pair of goals for a 13-10 Marin Catholic edge.

Reese Goodenough’s penalty goal with 1:07 left to play gave Marin Academy one more reason the celebrate before Greene closed out the game with a penalty goal.