Tam High goalie Emily McMahon had never played in an MCAL championship game before but she came to each of the prior three contests and soaked up the atmosphere.

Now a senior, McMahon took center stage in her first appearance in the final, making a big save in regulation then coming up with another stop on Redwood’s eighth penalty kick of the shootout to lift Tam to its first postseason MCAL title since 2018.

“It feels so good,” McMahon said. “I’ve been on the team for the past four years and each year we’ve been in semifinals, lost, gotten unlucky — like we’ve had great teams each year and we’ve just been unfortunate … Even to play in this game, I was so excited about it. I wanted to be on the field with the big crowd. Winning feels even better. It’s so amazing. I’m really happy that it’s my senior year and we were able to pull it off.“Each year I’d always come to this game, watch it. It’s so fun to watch. It’s such a fun experience and to be part of it this year is so special.”

Tam claimed the title after going eight rounds of penalties — five regular rounds and three in sudden death — against Redwood following a 0-0 tie through regulations and two overtime periods.

“I mean I knew that saving the ball would cause us to win and I saved it and it almost took me a second to realize,” McMahon said. “Then I saw everyone rushing forward and then I was like ‘Oh my goodness’ and everyone trampled on top of me and we all piled like a dog pile. It was awesome. It was so exciting.”

While her penalty stop clinched the title for Tam (13-4-6), McMahon’s save in the 45th minute of regulation was the biggest reason the Red-tailed Hawks got to the shootout.

Redwood striker Sarah Farese — the MCAL’s top scorer with 10 goals in eight league games this season — got into a dangerous area behind Tam’s back line. Farese had scored twice in similar situations the last time the teams met — a 2-1 Redwood victory.

This time around, McMahon stayed closer to her line, waited for Farese to shoot, then dove to her left to push the shot just wide of the post.

“That was pretty full extension,” McMahon said of the save. “She had a great look. She got open and I think she might have been around like the PK spot. … I was ready to make that explosive dive then it hit the tips of my fingers and went wide for the corner.”

Tam’s best chance during regulation and the overtimes came in the 10th minute off a corner kick routine where the Red-tailed Hawks went short, then played it back to Lila Campbell, who served the ball back into the 6-yard box. Marissa Scanlan made a play on the ball right in front of Redwood goalie Evie Dickerson then Ava McMahon came in for the tap in but the offside flag had already been raised.

Redwood’s other best chance came in the 17th minute when Teagan McCormick hit the far post with a free kick taken from about 25 yards out.

“That was a great shot,” McMahon said. “I dove for it but I didn’t get my hand on it. It hit the post and then I got up as quick as I could but my defense did a great job of not letting Redwood get another try at the goal.”

The Giants (12-2-6) had a couple other notable chances — a shot just wide by Sydney Middleton off a cross from Evelyn Spiegel in the first half, and a header by Farese off a corner kick by in the first overtime.

“We definitely created enough chances to win the game but when you don’t put one in, you get to PKs then it’s anyone’s game from there,” Redwood coach Ivan Bandov said. “But super proud. It’s probably our best performance versus one of the top teams in Marin this year. We played really well but sometimes you need a little luck and it didn’t fall for us tonight.”

Ultimately neither team could break the other one down over the course of 100 minutes and a penalty-kick shootout was required to settle things.

“They’re really well coached, a really well organized team, and really hard to score on.” Tam coach Dave Presher said of Redwood. “Of course they have their striker [Farese] but it’s the whole team pressing 100% of the time.”

Tam went ahead 2-0 through two rounds of penalties, getting successful spot kicks from Campbell and Allegra Andreoli.

Dickerson made a pair of saves to keep Redwood in it, including one in the fifth round. The Giants made three consecutive penalties from McCormick, Cora Champommier, and Addison Ryba to force additional rounds in the shootout.

Isabel Alexander, Scanlan, Addie Covey and Bridget Brat also converted spot kicks for Tam. Middleton and Farese made penalties as Redwood extended the shootout into the eighth round.

“It was so stressful but I knew each of my teammates, they all have it, and we’ve practiced these so many times,” said Tam’s Lily-Rose Espinasse, who didn’t take a penalty but played a key role for Tam by drawing the primary defensive assignment on Farese. “I had confidence in every single one of my players and Emily did amazing. She got her hand on like three of them.”

Dickerson, in addition to saving two penalties, also got her hand to a couple of others. McMahon ultimately had the final say, saving Redwood’s last kick to secure the victory.

“I’ve been on the team for four years and we’ve never won MCALs once,” Covey said. “I’m just so proud of my team. We finally did it and it feels so good because it’s my senior year.”