Girls soccer: Terra Linda wins first section title on game’s last kick

The Terra Linda High girls soccer team made history on Saturday in about the most dramatic way possible.

The Trojans turned potential tragedy into triumph in the final minute of double overtime, successfully defending a dangerous Benicia free kick at one end then launching a counter attack that resulted in a corner kick that would serve as the last action of the game before penalties.

Daisy Ruiz scored after the corner taken by Isabelle Rossetti and TL secured the first section title in program history with a 3-2 home victory in the North Coast Section Division IV title game.

“This is just an unbelievable experience,” said TL striker Nina Iyer, who had a goal and an assist. “I can’t even wrap my head around it. It’s amazing.”

Terra Linda (10-8-5) gets an opportunity to make even more program history in the State playoffs which begin next week. The Trojans claimed a spot with their win in the D-IV title game.

“This team in particular, they’ve been a very committed team,” said TL coach Dylan Arroyo, who won a section title with the boys program in 2002. “We have a lot of new players to varsity this year because we graduated a bunch of players last year and there was a learning curve. We had a lot of girls in and out, some adversity with injuries. I’m just so proud they got to experience winning a section title. It’s such a great accomplishment.”

Benicia was awarded a free kick in the 100th minute of the game – deep into the second period of overtime – after TL goalie JoJo Fetterman-Riggle was called for having possession of the ball, putting it down, then picking it back up. The result was an indirect free kick for Benicia inside TL’s 18-yard box.

Benicia’s Cobie Nolan, who scored both goals for the Panthers (9-10-1), struck the ball into TL’s wall and the Trojans launched a last-minute counterattack in hopes of avoiding penalty kicks.

Rossetti’s initial service on the corner was repelled by Benicia but the ball popped back to the Trojans, who served a second ball into the box. Ruiz was aware enough to find the open space inside the 6-yard box and made her run.

“There was like an empty space so I saw the opportunity and ran in,” Ruiz said. “The goalie wasn’t there and it went in.”

The goal triggered a massive TL celebration right in front of Benicia’s goal.

“Everything was moving so fast and all of a sudden I saw Daisy out of nowhere just tapping it in,” Iyer said. “It was a perfect, beautiful goal.”

The last kick of the first half, second half, and second overtime all proved to be massively consequential plays in TL’s title win.

Benicia went in front 1-0 in the 31st minute after Benicia’s Julia Conner made a great run down the right side of the field and crossed the ball into the box. TL was called for a hand ball and Nolan smashed the ensuing penalty high into the side netting, giving Fetterman-Riggle no chance.

TL’s response over the next 10 minutes was pivotal. TL climbed back into the match in the 38th minute on a move that began with Iyer and Allie Marovich attacking down the left side. Marovich ran the ball down to keep it inbounds and played it back to Iyer, who sent a diagonal ball through Benicia’s box. The ball found its way through almost everyone. Rossetti was camped out on the far post and put the ball into the net to tie the game at 1-1.

“We put together that really nice combination of two, three, four passes – stuff that we’ve been working on all year but we haven’t executed in a game,” Arroyo said. “To see it happen in that moment – Isabelle, we’ve talked about our outside mids covering that far post and there she was sitting at the far post, no one there, and put it right in.”

Iyer put TL in front 2-1 on the last kick of the first half after an assist by Seda Sankey.

“(Seda) was dribbling down the field and she cut through a few players and made a beautiful assist to me,” Iyer said. “I took a turn and I just shot it with my left foot and it was in the top left corner.”

TL appeared to be cruising through the second half but Benicia moved Nolan up top and created several dangerous moments on set pieces in the final 15 minutes. The Panthers eventually tied the game on a through ball to Nolan in the 73rd minute.

“We never gave up and that’s the most important thing,” Iyer said. “We had persistence and determination and we came out here with a good and positive attitude and we were able to make the most of it.”

The final chance of regulation fell to Iyer and she made a dangerous run into Benicia’s box. Iyer got herself into a great position but her shot went just inches over the crossbar and the game went into overtime.

TL prevailed despite having to make sweeping changes across the back line after all-MCAL first team center back Remi David was ruled out with an ankle injury sustained in Wednesday’s semifinals.

Libby Ngo came in at left back, Addie Foley swapped sides over to right back, and Sammie Foley took up David’s spot next to Allegra Rodriguez.

In addition to his reshuffled back line, Arroyo also gave credit to his midfield.

“Mabry (Lance) and Hailey (Lauster) played just fantastic,” Arroyo said. “Mabry is like the glue in that midfield and she was guarding [one of Benicia’s top players Veronica Osejo].”