Sports
Seniors Anchor Tam Girls Soccer Lineup
Returning all-MCAL players Kalia Rothlind, Storie Ledger and Phebe Miller give Hawks the core they hope will propel them past Redwood this season.
When your starting goalie is a freshman, it’s nice to have all the other positions on the soccer field covered.
For Tam High girls coach , it’s a luxury he believes he’ll have by season’s end this spring.
The Red-tailed Hawks, who are off to a 3-4 start, have a rock-solid nucleus in seniors , Storie Ledger and Phebe Miller, each an All-Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) performer last season.
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Kennedy said that the nice thing about the trio – other than their top-shelf talent – is that they’re spread out on the field. Rothlind is a midfielder, Ledger is a striker and Miller is a defender.
“All three are possible Division I (college) players,” Kennedy observed. “That’s our spine.”
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Right now, the spine is a bit bruised. Miller suffered a knee injury during a camp at Cornell and has yet to play this season. Kennedy hopes to get her back sometime in April.
“(The injury) is unfortunate, but you’re always trying to get better as the season goes along,” Kennedy noted. “Getting her back will definitely make us better.”
The Hawks dropped their MCAL opener to Marin Catholic 2-0 on Tuesday, and lost to Drake 1-0 Thursday, but Kennedy said he wasn't worried about his team's ability to find the back of the net.
“We have the ability to score,” Kennedy said. “That’s fun.”
Rothlind and Ledger both play major roles in that.
Rothlind, who will attend Cal next year, is an attacking midfielder. Kennedy gives her the freedom to go wherever she wants, whenever she wants.
Ledger, meanwhile, is a hard-working forward who is labeled “a pain (for defenses)” by her coach. “She’s hard for opponents to deal with,” Kennedy added. “I expect her to get on the board a bunch for us this year.”
Not necessarily by design, the Hawks are starting a freshman goalie for the second consecutive season. All-league performer McCall Hoyt is taking a year off from soccer to concentrate on dance, and she’s replaced by 5-foot-11 , who joined workouts late because of basketball.
“We’re asking a lot of her,” Kennedy admitted. “She’s fantastic in the air right now, but she’s young.”
Also playing major roles for the Hawks this season are four-year varsity player , who can play both midfield and forward, and two junior defenders – Caitlin Firmage and basketball standout .
Kennedy sees defending champion Redwood as the team to beat again, but warns, “I like our team. We’ll have our ups and down, but I think we’ll be ready late in the season.”
TAM HIGH 2011 GIRLS SOCCER SCHEDULE
Home games in CAPS
Lowell (San Francisco) 3, Tam 1
Tam 3, Napa 1
Tam 4, Lick-Wilmerding (San Francisco) 1
University (San Francisco) 3, Tam 1
Tam 2, Head-Royce (Oakland) 0
Marin Catholic 2, Tam 0
Drake 1, Tam 0
March 22, BRANSON, 4:30 p.m.
March 24, at Novato, 4:30 p.m.
March 29, at Terra Linda, 4:30 p.m.
March 31, REDWOOD, 4:30 p.m.
April 5, JUSTIN-SIENA, 4:30 p.m.
April 7, at San Rafael, 4:30 p.m.
April 8, MARIN ACADEMY, 4 p.m.
April 19, at San Marin, 4:30 p.m.
April 21, MARIN CATHOLIC, 4:30 p.m.
April 26, DRAKE, 4:30 p.m.
April 27, at Branson, 4:30 p.m.
May 3, NOVATO, 4:30 p.m.
May 5, TERRA LINDA, 4:30 p.m.
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