Girls soccer: Branson rides big first half to semifinal win against Tam

After playing at center back last season and defensive center midfield to start this season, Branson’s Sophie Arnal had to get accustomed to a new position as the team’s left winger.

The move paid immediate dividends a few weeks ago in a 3-0 win against Marin Catholic and the Bulls continued to reap the rewards in Thursday’s MCAL semifinal against Tam.

Arnal scored in the fourth minute and again in the 29th minute to give the Bulls a two-goal cushion. Luna Diaz added a third a few minutes later as the Bulls cruised into the MCAL final following a 3-0 home win.

“It was kind of unexpected because this hasn’t been my position but I’m really liking it right now,” Arnal said.

Arnal’s brace helped lift the top-seeded Bulls (19-1-2) into Saturday’s final against No. 2 Redwood (9-4-5) – 2-0 winners against San Rafael in the other semifinal. The girls final is set to follow the boys game and kick off at 6:30 p.m. at San Rafael High.

Arnal’s fourth-minute goal got Branson off to a dream start against Tam (6-12-5), although the Bulls could have gone up 1-0 inside the first minute. Branson center forward Luna Diaz got into the box and dribbled around Tam goalie Fionnula Hall. Diaz got all the way to the end line just beyond the left post then dribbled right into the goal mouth but Tam’s Lily-Rose Espinasse was there to deny a goal from literally point-blank range.

Four minutes later, the scoreboard read 1-0 Bulls anyway. Branson had the ball wide to the right then sent a cross into the box which Diaz flick-headed backwards past several Tam defenders. Arnal was camped out on the back side of the play and just inside the box then blasted a shot into the net.

“I just told myself to just shoot this and it was a perfect opportunity,” Arnal said. “I think Luna flicked the ball. It was a really good flick and it just set me up and I finished it.”

Arnal showed off her ability to finish from distance again in the 29th minute after receiving a ball played forward by left back Tait Anderson. Arnal was just beyond the left corner of the box and slotted another goal home for a 2-0 lead.

“Sophie is new to this wing position but she’s been working really hard and we’re all happy that she’s playing there because she’s definitely been a big playmaker for our team,” Branson midfielder Cat Howell said.

Arnal’s initial move from defensive midfielder to attacking winger came to fruition against MC on Jan. 26.

“(Arnal) missed a few games with a concussion and then Hailey [Sellers] started playing at the 6 and did a really good job,” Branson coach Tyler Gottschalk said of the switch. “We liked what we were getting from Hailey in there and felt that Sophie had some qualities that could make her a weapon out on the wing. Obviously she’s a matchup problem at the back post if you’re getting service into the box and she’s two footed and can strike a ball incredibly well with both feet.

“I think you saw that today. She smashed one from the top of the box right footed on the volley I think then she hit one left footed from the corner of the 18 and smashed that to the far post so we’ve seen those qualities on display now.”

Diaz extended Branson’s lead in the 33rd minute after Sellers played a through ball to spring her behind Tam’s back line. Diaz shot across the goal, putting the ball just beyond Hall’s reach for 3-0.

“When (Diaz) got her movements right, we found her a few times and she is such a handful to deal with, with her pace and her ability to attack with both feet,” Gottschalk said. “She scored a really nice goal and won us a couple of corners in the second half.”

Tam’s best attacking moments came on set pieces taken from midfield on Branson’s small pitch. Lila Campbell hit several dangerous balls into Branson’s box from that kind of range.

“(Campbell) hit some pretty good ones but they weren’t able to get on the end of any,” Gottschalk said.

Branson looked the likelier of the teams to score in the second half, with midfielder Julia Myerberg creating a number of good looks for her teammates on through balls and off of set-piece deliveries.

Protecting a three-goal lead, Branson opted to play more compact and deny Tam a way back into the game. To that end, Gottschalk noted the contributions of Howell, who is known for winning aerial duels for headers all over the pitch.

“What she brings every game is that aerial presence when it comes to getting on the end of stuff, trying to score,” Gottschalk said. “She got a header on goal in the first half or if it’s just defensive headers in the midfield off punts and in the box on corners or free kicks. She’s so important to us defensively and I thought she was fantastic again today when we didn’t have the ball.”

Tam’s loss ended its hopes of advancing to next week’s North Coast Section playoffs. The Red-tailed Hawks needed to either win the MCAL tournament and earn the automatic bid or defeat Branson on Thursday then at least make it to penalties in the final – which would go down as a tie on their record.

Redwood 2, San Rafael 0

Caitlin Titcombe scored inside the first five minutes and Lily O’Shea added a second inside the last 15 as the Giants advanced to their sixth consecutive MCAL title game – a streak that predates the COVID-19 pandemic – after a win over the Bulldogs (12-2-9).

Teagan McCormick had the assist on Redwood’s first goal and Lauren Ellington provided the service on the second one.

Redwood and Branson met in three consecutive MCAL finals from 2022 to 2024, with Branson sandwiching two titles around a crown for the Giants in 2023. Redwood fell to Tam on penalty kicks last season.

Redwood and Branson battled to a 1-1 draw on Jan. 14 – the only blemish on Branson’s otherwise perfect league record this season. O’Shea scored in that game to give Redwood a 1-0 lead then Giselle Hernandez equalized for Branson inside the final 10 minutes.