On Saturday, Nov. 2, girls’ varsity water polo competed in the Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) championship against Tamalpais High School (Tam). Going into the game with a 6-4 league record, and a win against fifth-seed Marin Catholic, the Giants had momentum from the start. Junior Kate Morgan got the first goal of the game, setting the tone for a back-and-forth battle between the two sides. The energy was matched throughout the first quarter, with the Giants and Red Tailed Hawks each showing why their team deserved the title.
However, as the game progressed, Redwood was unable to keep their energy and offensive drive, as Tam started to pull ahead. The Hawks capitalized through untraditional lobbed balls over the goalie, rather than direct shots, forcing the Giants to remain defensive. At halftime, the Giants trailed 6-2, but there was still hope for the Giants. Freshman Samantha Riley defended passes toward the goal, and junior Morgan Siclick and senior Giselle Orsen each impressed offensively and defensively. Despite their offensive attack, numerous shots wide or off the goalpost denied any attempt to equalize the score. The Hawks weren’t able to capitalize as much in the second half, but still secured the MCAL championship with a final score of 8-4. Redwood’s impressive season will continue in their first North Coast Section game, against Castro Valley on Nov. 11. Make sure to come and support!