On Wednesday, Jan. 29, boys’ varsity soccer dominated the Tamalpais Red Tailed Hawks in their twelfth game of the season, securing a 2-1 win. This extended the Giants’ strong season, who are currently second in the Marin County Athletic League (MCAL), holding a 6-2-4 overall record.
Redwood took control early, taking multiple shots at the Hawks goalie. However, it wasn’t until the end of the first half when senior captain Hugo Gebhard scored off of a free kick in a dangerous area to give the Giants a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
Early into the second half, Tamalpais senior Noah Pederson stole the ball upfield and drove a shot right over the hands of Redwood freshman goalie Cade Jaffee. After their one defensive blip, however, the Giants dominated, keeping the ball close to the Hawks’ net and generating many chances. Just minutes after the Tamalpais goal, senior captain Sam Gersch scored a header off of a deflected cross to restore the Redwood lead. His crucial goal energized the team and underscored the mental resilience that has defined their season.
“The entire season, we [have] just focused on what we can do mentally because that leads to our physical performance,” Gersch said.
Both teams worked hard throughout the game, keeping the pressure up in an attempt to win the rivalry matchup. The intensity on the field reflected the dedication and leadership of key players throughout the season.
“Hugo Gebhard has really taken his captain role and leadership role to heart. I knew that he really wanted to leave a mark on everybody here, and make this year memorable,” Gersch said.
The Giants have been focused on this game the entire season, working on different tactics to use in order to be confident in their abilities. Junior James Mostafavi reflected on the team’s performance, highlighting how they stayed composed and executed their game plan under pressure.
“I think we came out and brought our best effort [against Tam today]. Some of the passes weren’t great, but I think the effort just showed through to pull out a win,” Mostafavi said.
The Giants are a very skilled team this year, filled with players of all different experiences and grade levels.
“We have a lot of new kids on the team because a bunch of seniors [graduated last year], but I think everybody is pretty bonded together,” Gersch said.
The team matches up against the Hawks again on Saturday, Feb. 1. The match will count towards North Coast Section rankings.