Girls soccer: Terra Linda makes section semifinal stage for first time

The feel-good story of the winter playoffs has to be the Terra Linda High girls soccer team earning its first trip to the North Coast Section semifinals in school history.

Make that feel-good stories.

Freshman Seda Sankey has burst onto the scene in the playoffs with two more goals on Saturday to spark the Trojans’ 2-0 NCS Division IV quarterfinal win over Albany. She has four scores in the tournament so far.

Then there’s senior captain Sammie Foley, who played in her 72nd consecutive game for the Trojans. Ever the defensive force that has helped secure two consecutive NCS shutouts, Foley has played a defining role in the inspired Trojans’ postseason path.

“I just think it’s so exciting being in the NCS in the first place and playing with my team,” said Foley, who has started every game since her freshman season. “Winning on top of it just makes it even better. I’m so proud of my team.”

The No. 2-seeded Trojans (8-8-5) will make their NCS semifinal debut on Wednesday, when they face the winner of Saturday’s late game — No. 3 Rancho Cotate, 2-1 winners against No. 6 Pinole Valley.

The Trojans reached the NCS D-II quarterfinals last season after upsetting Marin Catholic in the first round. They lost in a shootout in the D-III first round in 2024.

On Saturday against No. 7 Albany (11-7-5), Terra Linda relied on youth and depth to make up for injuries to key players: Junior Remi David has been bothered by an ankle injury and did not play; Isabelle Rossetti, who had three goals in the NCS opener, left in the 23rd minute with a knee injury; Shea Reyes, who was filling in for David, injured her quad and briefly returned with her leg taped.

With their youth movement afoot, the Trojans struck quickly on a set-piece 3 minutes into the match. Freshman Allegra Rodriguez sent a free kick from 30 yards out, where Sankey headed in the ball for a 1-0 lead.

“She’s really stepped up her game,” Terra Linda fifth-year coach Dylan Arroyo said of Sankey. “She’s put a lot of work in. She works outside of practice. I was proud to see her get that opportunity.”

Sankey added her second goal in the 70th minute. She collected a through ball from freshman Hailey Lauster and used her left foot to curve the goal past the Albany keeper.

“I was really hoping we’d score another one because 1-0 was not enough,” said Sankey. “We had a lot of chances. I was really proud. Everyone was so excited.”

The Terra Linda defense secured its second straight NCS shutout en route to the semifinals. Foley moved from outside back to center to account for the loss of David and got help from her freshman sister Addie Foley and Rodriguez. Goalie Jojo Fetterman-Riggle was active and aggressive.

“I’d like to shout out our two freshmen — Allegra and Addie,” said Sammie Foley. “Playing with them has been so huge. As freshmen, you don’t really expect them to do as much, but they’ve had such a huge impact on the defense.”