Girls water polo: Youth movement helps Tam to MCAL crown
Tam High’s young class is writing its own version of history this season, but some things just don’t change, it seems. For the second time in three years, Tam frustrated Redwood to claim the MCAL girls water polo crown.
The Red-tailed Hawks, powered by stellar sophomores Sophia Uhlhorn-Thornton and Julia Ulvestad, beat the Giants, 8-4, on Saturday in San Anselmo, inciting a raucous celebration in the pool.
“We were all really excited. We got hyped before the game and went in with a positive attitude,” said Ulvestad, who scored three goals in Saturday’s victory. “Even though we beat them before, we knew this was a totally new game.”
Uhlhorn-Thornton scored three goals of her own for Tam, which also got two goals from freshman Catherine Philp.
Saturday’s title rematch from 2021 was similar — even with a new class of players — to the outcome three years ago, when the Red-tailed Hawks, with seniors Izzy and Madeline Uhlhorn-Thornton, beat the Giants, 8-6.
Tam, which lost to Marin Academy in the finals of last season’s North Coast Section Division II tournament, is now looking to keep the momentum from Saturday’s win rolling. The NCS seeding meeting is scheduled for Sunday, with play in Division II starting Wednesday and Division I on Thursday. Open Division play begins Saturday.
“We’re excited to win more games and to keep working,” Ulvestad said.
History definitely appeared to favor Tam entering Saturday’s showdown for the MCAL title. Tam swept Redwood in two regular-season meetings, 11-7 and 8-6, but if this week’s playoffs proved anything, it’s that nothing is guaranteed.
Tam and Redwood — the third and fourth seeds, respectively — were both riding the momentum from their upset victories in Thursday’s semifinals. Redwood knocked off top-seeded and unbeaten Archie Williams, while Tam ousted second-seeded Marin Academy.
Senior Giselle Orsen led the Giants with two goals, both in the third period, while Kate Morgan and Samantha Riley also scored.
Morgan opened the game’s scoring in the first minute, but Philp nailed the equalizer with a power play goal, before Ulvestad scored the go-ahead goal on a lob shot with 26 seconds left in the first period.
“It was important to get that early lead,” Ulvestad said. “It definitely boosted our confidence. But we don’t want to be a team that will ease up, so we kept pushing forward on offense and worked hard on defense. We’ve been prioritizing defense, and our offense is different than most offenses. It allows us to get ejections and get good looks at the net.”
Redwood ramped up its attack as the game went on, but struggled to get a clear shot against a tenacious Tam defense.
“Tam’s defense packs the middle and cuts off our movement on offense, so we were forced to shoot from outside,” Redwood coach Brian Monty said. “Unfortunately our outside shots weren’t going in. But we put together a great effort.”
Tam senior netminder Nola Palestrant made even the toughest save look easy with her long arms and quick reaction. Palestrant had 15 saves against 25 Redwood shots.
“We have the best goalie. She’s our most valuable player,” Ulvestad said of Palestrant.