Ledger Scores Twice, Tam Wins MCAL Soccer Title

’s girls soccer team finally got its “Big Three” on the field together Friday, but truth be told, two were plenty.

’s season debut following knee surgery might have given the Red-tailed Hawks an emotional lift, but it was the goal-scoring of  (two) and solid all-around play of  that proved too much for Drake as Tam captured the Marin County Athletic League Playoffs crown with a 3-0 victory in Mill Valley.

Ledger scored from close range and on a penalty kick, and  added a penalty kick of her own, as Tam capped an amazing rally from a winless first week in MCAL regular-season play to sweep to the playoff title.

“To think we lost the first two games …,” gushed sophomore , “unbelievable.”

Gillespie was an everpresent thorn in the Drake attack and freshman goalie  played error-free in the net as the Hawks simply had too many weapons for a Drake team that had upset Redwood on Wednesday.

“We have four goals every game,” Archer noted. “Win, shutout, be positive and score. Today we did them all. It’s a great accomplishment.”

In the end, the three biggest plays of the game didn’t involve kicks. ’s 30-yard throw-in split two Drake defenders and led Ledger into a one-on-one with the Pirates' goalie, a duel the Tam senior easily won with a hard shot from five yards out that went untouched into the net just eight minutes into the contest.

“Henderson is a weapon,” Tam coach  assured. “And Storie, well, Storie’s one of the best players in the league.

“That got us back in control of the game. Then we got a couple of fortunate calls.”

Ah, the calls. A collision near the top of the penalty box and a slide tackle from the side in the box were both deemed major infractions on the Pirates, setting up Ledger and Winer for the game-clinching penalty kicks in the second half.

In the end, the calls might not have mattered. That’s how well seniors Ledger and Rothlind and the Gillespie-led defense were playing in front of Archer.

“Winning means so much, especially for our seniors,” Gillespie admitted of a group that includes Miller and Winer. “They really deserve it.”

Gillespie will be back for two more tries in her Tam career. Archer will have three.

“Coming in freshman year and winning MCALs …,” Archer said in a bit of a daze. “Absolutely amazing.”