Boys lacrosse: Marin Catholic earns historic NCS title in dominating win over De La Salle

Colin Puckett is bound for Ohio State next season, but he and his senior classmates left Marin Catholic with a gift before parting as the Wildcats claimed their first North Coast Section Division I boys lacrosse title.

Puckett and Harrison Tyler scored three goals each to lead top-seeded Marin Catholic to a dominating 14-3 victory over No. 3 De La Salle in Thursday’s championship in Kentfield.

“We knew what we wanted from the start of the season. We want the MCAL and NCS titles, and if we didn’t get them, it wouldn’t be the season we wanted,” said Puckett, who had three assists. “We were fighting every day to get those titles.”

Marin Catholic defeated Redwood, 14-8, in the MCAL championship on April 27. Nearly two weeks later, the Wildcats were celebrating another title win on the same field.

“I could not be more proud of our seniors,” Marin Catholic head coach BJ Grill said. “This win validates all their hard work.”

The Spartans (17-5) rallied Tuesday to beat Redwood 13-12 in overtime to secure their title shot against Marin Catholic (18-5). The Wildcats finished the season with an eight-game winning streak, including wins over Casa Grande and Monte Vista in the NCS playoffs to reach the finals.

Marin Catholic’s winning steak began with the team’s first game after returning from a four-game tour of New Jersey.

“When we were in New Jersey, we got dominated in the midfield by those teams,” Grill said. “When we got back, we knew we had to implement plans specifically to dominate the midfield and to have the best ride in the Bay Area, and I think we had the best ride in NCS.”

Marin Catholic’s Will Mangino wasted no time in breaking the game open with a goal less than 2 minutes after the opening whistle.

The Wildcats’ ride turned up the heat to force 10 turnovers during a physical contest. Puckett took advantage of a turnover at midfield in the final minute of the first quarter as he rushed toward the Spartans goal and fired the ball into the net for a 2-1 lead.

Marin Catholic continued to dominate the pace of the game, with goals from Tyler, Chase Ruegg and Puckett pushing the Wildcats’ lead to 5-1 by halftime.

Mack Barry closed out the third quarter with two goals in 45 seconds. Jake Holmes, Tate Sedlachek and Mattias Murdick each scored in the second half.

Marin Catholic goalkeeper Tanner Warne stopped eight shots in front of his own net. But late in the third quarter, with his team leading 7-2, Warne found himself with the ball and a wide open field in front of him. Warne charged upfield, almost uncontested by a surprised Spartans team. He squared up to his counterpart from 10 yards out, and took his shot, which bounced wide.

“That was the first shot I’ve taken all season,” Warne said. “That was kind of nerve wracking running up the field. I didn’t get the result I wanted, but maybe next time.”