Sports briefs: Tam boys water polo edges Redwood to advance to finals

With 13 seconds remaining, the Redwood High boys water polo team had one last chance to send Friday’s MCAL semifinal to overtime, but Tam delivered a defensive stand to escape to the championship game with a 9-8 win.

Goalkeeper Nikita Valajev made the difference in net for the Red-tailed Hawks (15-9) with six steals and several more saves. Willem Palmer led the scoring effort with three goals while Connor Stauffer added two.

Tam squares off against top-ranked Drake (12-11) for the league title Saturday at 2 p.m. at Novato. Last week, the Red-tailed Hawks upset the Pirates in overtime, 12-10, just the third loss Drake has suffered in the past two decades.

“We’re not going to catch Drake by surprise,” Tam coach Bob Kustel said.

• Daniel Hadar and Ian Christie scored two goals apiece as Drake defeated Terra Linda 10-2 in an MCAL semifinal at Novato High on Friday. Drake coach Matt Swanson credited his team’s defense and counterattacking prowess for the victory. TL’s Jonah Albers scored seven goals in the regular-season meeting but Drake kept him quiet on Friday.

Girls water polo

Sam Sternfels scored four goals in the MCAL semifinals to lead Tam past Terra Linda, 9-4, setting up a championship rematch against Drake on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Novato. Abby Moll totaled nine steals in an impressive defensive performance by the Red-tailed Hawks.

Men’s soccer

Former Drake standout Peter Carroll scored a pair of goals to help College of Marin pick up a 2-2 tie against Yuba on Friday. Carroll scored one goal in the first half then added another after the break, assisted by Abe Garcia Sessa (Terra Linda). The Mariners led 2-1 but were reduced to 10 men after a player received a red card. Yuba tied the game in the 86th minute.

Ace

Novato’s Regan Candelario hit a hole-in-one at Indian Valley Golf Club on Thursday. Candelario used a wedge from 133 yards out on the 17th hole.