PETALUMA >> Freshman Lauren Willard and senior Julia Costle have both discovered their scoring touch in recent weeks. That combination powered the Tam High girls soccer team all the way to the North Coast Section Division II final following a 2-1 upset win over top seed and defending champion Casa Grande on Tuesday night.
Willard and Costle both brought their section playoff scoring tallies to four goals in three games for Tam. Willard scored on a free kick in the 28th minute then Costle scored a spectacular goal immediately following her own corner kick in the 42nd minute as Tam (14-4-5) built a 2-0 lead then held off a furious rally in the final 20 minutes by Casa Grande (18-2-1) to advance to the final. The win also guaranteed Tam a spot in next week’s NorCal playoffs.
“I’m so excited that we have two games,” Costle said. “I love this team so much. It’s my senior season and I just want to keep it going as long as I possibly can. Getting the NCS title would be amazing and I just can’t wait for NorCals.”
The No. 4 Red-tailed Hawks will face No. 2 Las Lomas (18-1-4) on the road either Friday or Saturday night. Tam last won a section title and made NorCals in 2020, making this the first time any current Tam player has made it this far.
“It’s so exciting,” Tam midfielder and MCAL player of the year Maren Jones said. “I’ve been telling (coach Dave Presher) from the beginning this is the team to do it. Everyone works so hard in practice, has the right mentality, and is playing really well. I think every single game we’re getting better. We’re playing better soccer so it’s nice to keep going.”
Willard and Jones were both lined up over a free kick just outside the 18-yard box in the 28th minute. Willard, a left footer, ended up taking it. Willard was looking to cross the ball in toward the back post, lofting the ball just over a defender and leaving the goalie with no chance to get to it for a 1-0 lead.
Tam free kick. Willard. Might have taken a touch. 1-0 Tam either way. 28’. #marinsoccer pic.twitter.com/WjyKC3j9uL
— Ian Ross (@IRossMIJ) February 21, 2024
“I was actually going for a cross but it worked out as a shot which was really good,” Willard said. “It was a tricky ball which skipped through the middle which was very dangerous for them. I could hear everyone just moved out of the way because they thought the keeper was going to get it.”
Tam took a 1-0 lead into the half then doubled it almost immediately once play resumed. Costle lined up over a corner kick and attempted to bend it straight into the goal – an Olimpico. The ball bounced once before curling just inside the near post. A Casa Grande defender cleared the ball off the post but right back to Costle, who smoked her second shot just under the crossbar for a 2-0 lead.
Costle almost hits the Olimpico then puts the rebound in. 2-0 Tam. #marinsoccer pic.twitter.com/07NbwHYTnT
— Ian Ross (@IRossMIJ) February 21, 2024
“That’s the best shot I’ve ever seen her hit,” Presher said. “She practices her Olimpicos all the time. I think it was a little low. It was going in but it was a tiny bit low and she just caught (the second shot) perfect.”
After Tam’s attacking players shined over the course of the first 65 minutes, the defenders needed to be on top of their games to hold off Casa Grande over the last 15 minutes plus a considerable amount of stoppage time.
Still up 2-0 in the 72nd minute, Tam had an opportunity to put the game away on a counterattack. Costle got behind the defense and into the 18-yard box but goalie Abby Harvey came off her line and made the stop.
Tam’s shouts for a penalty kick on the play went unheeded then Casa Grande was awarded a penalty less than a minute later for a handball inside Tam’s 18-yard box. Bailey Guerrero, who narrowly missed the goal by a matter of inches a few minutes prior, dispatched her penalty into the corner of the goal to pull Casa Grande within 2-1 in the 73rd minute.
Casa pk. 2-1 Tam. 73’. #marinsoccer pic.twitter.com/kvAdWvhCCh
— Ian Ross (@IRossMIJ) February 21, 2024
Tam needed big plays and important touches by goalie Emily McMahon, center backs Gabby Hoeberichts and Sawyer Merrick, outside backs Lily-Rose Espinasse and Madeline Mickelson, plus holding midfielder Marissa Scanlan to keep the Gauchos at bay and see the game out.
After much stoppage time… Tam 2, Casa 1. FINAL. #marinsoccer. pic.twitter.com/rExSHuWHZA
— Ian Ross (@IRossMIJ) February 21, 2024
“We’ve had some injuries and people just stick it out,” Jones said. “Gabby Hoeberichts has been out for a long time and she didn’t even think she’d be able to play today and she had a hell of a game. Big congratulations to the whole team. Lily-Rose killed it. Mickey (Mickelson) was on their best player (Guerrero) and was locked on defense.”
