Sports Briefs: Marin Academy freshman scores winner over MC

Freshman Syke Sacerdoti scored an unassisted goal in the first half to lift the Marin Academy girls soccer team to a 1-0 victory against Marin Catholic on Friday.

Both sets of Wildcats are expected to finish among the top teams in the county again this season. Sacerdoti’s goal came after MA’s front line was putting pressure on MC’s back line. The ball was kicked out wide and Sacerdoti sent a low hard shot into the net for the game’s only goal.

MA (5-2-0) finished off its December non-league schedule with a 4-1 record against MCAL teams, toppling MC (1-3-2), Tam, Archie Williams, and TL but losing to Redwood.

• Gianna Grasso netted the winning goal inside the final 15 minutes as San Marin (6-1-2) picked up a 1-0 victory against Piner on Friday.
• Tam (0-6-1) fell 4-0 against Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep at the University Tournament on Friday. Tam is set to face Lick-Wilmerding at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Beach Chalet #1 in San Francisco.
• Julia Myerberg had two assists then capped the scoring in the final minutes as Branson defeated Rancho Cotate 4-0 on Thursday night. The game was scoreless at the half then Myerberg set up Sophie Arnal for goals in the 54th and 64th minutes to give the Bulls (7-1-1) a 2-0 lead. Luna Diaz made it 3-0 on an assist by Anya Sridharan. Myerberg’s goal was assisted by Giselle Hernandez.
• Remi David scored a pair of unassisted goals to lift Terra Linda to a 2-0 non-league victory against Novato (1-3-1) on Friday. Ariana Garcia had the shutout in goal for TL (5-3-2)

Girls basketball

Kate Spaulding continued her impressive start to the season with 18 points in Branson’s 45-31 victory over Healdsburg on Thursday evening. Juliette Caldwell-Little added nine points for the Bulls (8-2), who also got eight points from Ava Gordon.

• San Domenico held off a furious Terra Linda rally for a 33-31 victory on Thursday. Terra Linda (1-6) erased a double-digit deficit to tie the game at 31-31. In the closing seconds of the game, the Panthers’ Lily Lesser stole an inbounds pass and knocked down the game-winner to send San Domenico (5-5) into the holiday break on a three-game winning streak.
• Ann McDermott put up 12 points as Marin Academy defeated Gateway, 52-37, on Thursday night. Val Saeltzer and Penelope Lee added 11 points each for the Wildcats (8-1).

Boys basketball

A shorthanded San Domenico squad outlasted Tam, 48-46, on Friday in a defensive slugfest. Oskar Valiauga dominated the paint and finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, including a couple huge baskets down the stretch. Omar Williams finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Porthos Oliveira led Tam with 10 points while Cole Bester chipped in nine.

The Mustangs’ Jack Ellis scored a team-high 20 points as St. Vincent de Paul kicked off the Gary von Raesfeld Memorial Tournament on Thursday with a 61-35 victory over Credo in Petaluma. George Chaput added 11 points, while Dylan Chelew had 10 for the Mustangs (2-0).

• San Marin got off to a fast start then held on for a 54-47 victory over Hillsdale to open the Mustangs Invitational on Thursday night. The Mustangs (5-3) advanced to play Foothill in Friday night’s semifinals.

Reporting scores

Coaches are encouraged to report scores, stats and game details via email to sports@marinij.com or to @marinij_sports on Twitter following games. Anything that comes in after the deadline for print – around 8 p.m. typically – will be included the following day.