Redwood players celebrate with teammate Mariel Goodhart (6) after Goodhart scored a goal against Marin Catholic during their MCAL girls field hockey game at Marin Catholic in Kentfield, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Redwood defeated Marin Catholic 1-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Chamonix Hewlette (39) of Redwood, left, moves the ball while being denied by Mattie Reale (17) of Marin Catholic during their MCAL girls field hockey game at Marin Catholic in Kentfield, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Redwood defeated Marin Catholic 1-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Redwood goalkeeper Eva Layton (121), left, hurries back to the front of the net to stop Michi Sold (4) from scoring during their MCAL girls field hockey game at Marin Catholic in Kentfield, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Redwood defeated Marin Catholic 1-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Elsa Greene (1) of Marin Catholic, left, works to move the ball past Claire Johnson (16) of Redwood during their MCAL girls field hockey game at Marin Catholic in Kentfield, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Redwood defeated Marin Catholic 1-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Nina Baker (17) of Redwood, left, tries to move the ball past Marin Catholic defender Cece Biernat (24) during their MCAL girls field hockey game at Marin Catholic in Kentfield, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Redwood defeated Marin Catholic 1-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Michi Sold (4) of Marin Catholic, left, moves in on Julia Delsol (3) of Redwood of Redwood during their MCAL girls field hockey game at Marin Catholic in Kentfield, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Redwood defeated Marin Catholic 1-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Fans watch as Claire Johnson (16) of Redwood, left, races Lauren Bosch (3) of Marin Catholic to the ball during their MCAL girls field hockey game at Marin Catholic in Kentfield, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Redwood defeated Marin Catholic 1-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Mattie Reale (17) of Marin Catholic moves the ball down the field during their MCAL girls field hockey game against Marin Catholic at Marin Catholic in Kentfield, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Redwood defeated Marin Catholic 1-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Claire Johnson (16) of Redwood, left, tries to take a shot as Lucy Vollert (7) of Marin Catholic defends during their MCAL girls field hockey game at Marin Catholic in Kentfield, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Redwood defeated Marin Catholic 1-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Nina Baker (17) of Redwood battles Elsa Greene (1) of Marin Catholic for the ball during their MCAL girls field hockey game at Marin Catholic in Kentfield, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Redwood defeated Marin Catholic 1-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
Lexie Schmidt (2) of Marin Catholic, left, looks back as teammate Elsa Greene (1) controls the ball while Nina Baker (17) of Redwood moves in to defend during their MCAL girls field hockey game at Marin Catholic in Kentfield, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Redwood defeated Marin Catholic 1-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
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Redwood players celebrate with teammate Mariel Goodhart (6) after Goodhart scored a goal against Marin Catholic during their MCAL girls field hockey game at Marin Catholic in Kentfield, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. Redwood defeated Marin Catholic 1-0. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)
An early goal from Mariel Goodhart on Friday gave Redwood High’s title hopes a shot in the arm as the Giants prepare to close out the final week of the field hockey regular season.
Goodhart scored off a pass from the corner on a penalty play in just 2 1/2 minutes for the game’s lone goal as Redwood edged rival Marin Catholic 1-0 in Kentfield on Friday to pull into a virtual tie for third place in the MCAL, with three games remaining in the regular season.
“We’re on a win streak, we’ve won the championship the past few years, and I really want to win,” Giants sophomore goalkeeper Eva Layton said. “The whole team wants to win. I think in recent years, we’ve clutched up around playoff time.”
Tam (11-1-2, 10-1-2 MCAL) and University (12-4-1, 10-2-1) top the MCAL standings, with Marin Catholic (12-5-1, 8-4) and Redwood (11-6-3, 8-2-2) right behind.
“At this point, any of the top four teams are capable of winning the title,” Marin Catholic coach Patricia Hubbard said.
The Wildcats responded to Goodhart’s score with a flurry of shots at Layton, who was dynamic in net. She blocked an initial penalty shot, then went down to her knees to stop another shot off the rebound. With her teammates around her, Layton went into a butterfly, sprawling across the goal line to stop any other shots.
“MC is always tough, and it’s always fun because we have a big rivalry,” said Layton, who spent the offseason on the East Coast at Nexus USA Field Hockey camps, hoping to catch the eye of national team and college scouts. The extra work showed as Layton shut down Marin Catholic, turning away seven shots.
“I feel like I’ve really gotten prepared for the high school season,” Layton said. “I’ve been really busy, but it’s fun and exciting.”
Redwood kept Marin Catholic netminder Samantha Schaeffer busy as the Giants teed up for 15 shots toward MC’s goal. Schaeffer, a second-team All-MCAL goalkeeper last year, stood firm in net behind her defense, though, with 10 saves.
“Samantha Schaeffer is super impressive,” said Layton, who was analyzing her opponent in net during the game and feeding information to her Redwood teammates.
Redwood’s transition game kept Marin Catholic on guard, with solid stickhandling from senior defenseman Julia Delsol and sophomore midfielder Claire Johnson backing up forwards Lucy Jeffers and Jane Broderick.
Marin Catholic was on the verge of evening the score throughout the first half, with captains Elsa Greene and Mattie Reale directing the play. But the Wildcats struggled to get a clean shot in the second half with precious time ticking off the clock.
“We didn’t convert when we had to, and that’s what these games are about,” Hubbard said. “They’re tight games. You’re going to get some corners. You’re going to get some shots on goal. That’s what we’re going to focus on the next few weeks.”
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