Marin FC prevails for Elite crown - Marin Independent Journal

CLUB SOCCER

Marin FC prevails for Elite crown

Locals beat Las Vegas in shootout in milestone victory

The Marin FC Girls Blue 2009 team celebrates with the trophy after beating a team from Las Vegas in the championship of the Elite Clubs National League Showcase Cup A Division in San Diego on Tuesday. PHOTO BY JOSH MYERBERG

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By Ian Ross

iross@marinij.com

The Marin FC Girls 2009 team had an opportunity to become the first team from the club to win an Elite Clubs National League title when it faced the Las Vegas Heat Surf in the title game of the Showcase Cup A Division in San Diego on Tuesday.

Marin FC, coached by Tyler Gottschalk (Branson), rallied from a two-goal deficit at the half — tying the game on a penalty kick in the final minute of regulation — and ultimately prevailed 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw.

Marin FC — which entered the 16-team knockout tournament as the No. 2 seed — won all four of its matches, including penalty shootouts in the quarterfinals and final.

Tatum D’Angelica (San Marin High) converted a penalty kick in the last minute to tie the game against top seed Las Vegas at 3-3. Jaela Brown (San Rafael) was fouled just inside the 18-yard box following a pass from Nora Snearly (Marin Catholic).

D’Angelica stepped right back up to the penalty spot as the shootout began, converting again to give Marin FC an early 1-0 edge.

Las Vegas missed its first penalty then Teagan McCormick (Redwood) converted Marin FC’s second kick for a 2-0 lead. Goalie Dahlia Scanlon (Sonoma Academy) made a save to keep Marin FC’s advantage at 2-0.

From there, Delaney Kumer (San Carlos) and Snearly converted penalties to see out a 4-2 victory.

Marin FC trailed 3-1 at the half, getting a goal from Julia Myerberg (Branson) which was assisted by D’Angelica. Myerberg provided the assist on Marin FC’s second goal, finding Bridget Brat (Tam) for a header inside the final 10 minutes of the game.

The victory capped a successful stay in San Diego that began last Thursday with a 3-0 victory in the round of 16 against Sporting Blue Valley of Kansas City. D’Angelica assisted the first goal to Brown then scored the third goal off a long punt from Scanlon in goal. Kumer scored the second goal on an assist from Snearly.

Penalties were needed after Marin FC battled to a 1-1 tie against Chicago Inter Soccer in Saturday’s quarterfinal. Marin FC trailed after conceding an early goal but D’Angelica found a late equalizer following an assist by Myerberg. Scanlon made a pair of saves in the penalty shootout as teammates D’Angelica, McCormick, Kumer, and Anya Sridharan (Branson) made all of theirs to secure a 4-2 victory.

Marin FC got off to a flying start in Sunday’s semifinal, scoring three times in the first half en route to a 3-0 victory against CESA Liberty (South Carolina). D’Angelica scored in the the eighth minute from an assist by Remi David (Terra Linda) then earned a penalty kick in the 13th minute that Snearly scored for a 2-0 lead.

Goalie Evie Dickerson (Redwood) made a number of saves in the first half to keep a clean sheet. Marin FC extended its lead to 3-0 in the 27th minute when Myerberg scored on a shot from 25 yards out.

Roster

Ava Grevelding (Branson); Anya Sridharan (Branson); Blythe DeGooyer (Marin Academy); Gabriella Rode (Archie Williams); Jaela Brown (San Rafael); Addison Sarina (Danville); Dahlia Scanlon (Sonoma Academy); Tait Anderson (Branson); Evie Dickerson (Redwood); Tatum D’Angelica (San Marin); Keira Bromwell (St. Ignatius); Julia Myerberg (Branson); Nora Snearly (Marin Catholic); Delaney Kumer (San Carlos); Remi David (Terra Linda); Bridget Brat (Tam); Teagan McCormick (Redwood).