Tuesday, March 31, the girls junior varsity (JV) lacrosse team competed in a hard-fought game against the Tamalpais Red Tailed Hawks. The Giants had a dominant lead throughout the game, making it difficult for Tam to keep up and resulting in an 11-5 win for the Giants.
Going into the game, Redwood Coach Bill Scott said the team had a clear mindset, and losing to Tam wasn’t an option. The Giants successfully kept a five point lead over Tam throughout the entire game starting off the first quarter with a goal within a minute.
Scott emphasized how one of the most important factors that contributed to Redwood winning this matchup against Tam was ball control. “Every time you possess the ball, about one in five [times] you’re gonna get a goal,” Scott said.
Tam didn’t have the ball much, putting immense pressure on their defense. Redwood team captain Ella Arnold reflected on Redwood’s attack strategies, saying, “We had really good energy and communication as a team.”
Scott said that Redwood’s offense really shined today, with impressive goals during the second quarter from sophomores Lulu Borden and Natalie Wittenkeller. Their goals left the score at 7-2 in Redwood’s favor.
Although Redwood had lots of success today, they also faced some challenges with defense. “There were a few moments where the high defenders weren’t sliding as well,” said team captain Sidney Bank.
With the defensive communication errors, it allowed Tam to score three goals in the third quarter. “Tam should not be able to beat us on any Tuesday, but we gave them a chance to win,” Scott said.
Scott said that a huge turning point in the game was the ability that Redwood’s goalie, Scarlett Zola-Kahn, had to run the ball up the field. “Tam wasn’t prepared to see her run the ball, giving us an offensive advantage,” said Scott.
As the fourth quarter rolled around, the Giants continued to have fun and keep good energy. “Our energy was a lot higher today because we really wanted to play up rather than play down,” Bank said.
Due to the notorious rivalry between Redwood and Tam, Redwood excelled offensively and played high quality lacrosse. In preparation for Redwood’s next game against Terra Linda, the team will continue to work on defense and use strategic attack and midfield tactics. “A team goal for us is to keep playing aggressively and having good communication,” said Arnold.
