Prep playoffs: Lacrosse teams primed for deep postseason runs
Marin's prep lacrosse teams have claimed five North Coast Section titles over the past two seasons and, with the release of this year's postseason brackets, that number is likely to increase over the course of the next two weeks.
Marin’s prep lacrosse teams have claimed five North Coast Section titles over the past two seasons and, with the release of this year’s postseason brackets on Sunday, that number is likely to increase over the course of the next two weeks.
The Marin Catholic boys and San Marin girls were awarded top seeds in Division I and D-II, respectively. The Redwood boys were awarded the No. 2 seed in D-I, setting up the potential for a rematch of Saturday’s MCAL title game against MC in next Thursday’s title game.
An MCAL title rematch on the girls side could also be in the cards with Redwood claiming the No. 2 seed in D-I and MC taking the No. 3 seed. If both teams win out this week, they’d square off in a semifinal next Tuesday.
The county’s boys volleyball teams face a much tougher path to success with three of the five starting their journeys on the road. Redwood (D-II) and Archie Williams (D-III) were both awarded a home game Tuesday as No. 6 seeds before likely hitting the road for Thursday quarterfinals.
Boys lacrosse
De La Salle has won the past three D-I titles that have been contested since 2019, taking down Redwood 13-10 in last year’s championship game. The Giants defeated the Spartans, seeded third, 10-3 this season and could get the rematch they crave in the semifinals.
The top four seeds — Marin Catholic (15-5), Redwood (11-8), De La Salle, and Monte Vista in that order — all received byes and won’t open play until Thursday’s quarterfinal round. If the Wildcats and Giants meet in the title game, MC would be seeking a third consecutive win in the series after a 9-6 win in the regular season and a 14-8 victory in Saturday’s MCAL final.
Redwood and MC are joined in D-I by No. 5 Marin Academy (13-6) and No. 7 Tam (7-12). MA opens against No. 12 Clayton Valley Charter at 7 p.m. Tuesday at San Rafael High. Tam opens on the road at No. 10 Berkeley at 7 p.m. Tuesday. A win by the Red-tailed Hawks would set up a Thursday quarterfinal against Redwood.
Four Marin teams populate the D-II bracket, led by No. 8 San Marin (9-6) and No. 9 Terra Linda (7-6) who face each other at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at San Marin.
No. 10 Novato (6-10) opens on the road against No. 7 Cardinal Newman at 7 p.m. Tuesday while No. 15 San Rafael (8-8) travels to face No. 2 Livermore.
Girls lacrosse
Five Marin teams made it into D-I with No. 8 Marin Academy and No. 9 Tam set to clash in the first round and No. 2 Redwood and No. 3 Marin Catholic potentially set up for a semifinal in the other half of the bracket.
The Giants (15-4) received a bye alongside No. 1 San Ramon Valley and won’t play until Thursday’s quarterfinals. MC (14-4) begins with a home game against No. 14 Rancho Cotate at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. A potential third meeting between Redwood and MC would be a highly anticipated one after the Giants won 16-14 in the regular season and 13-12 in overtime in Saturday’s MCAL final.
MA (11-3) and Tam (9-8) also faced each other during the regular season, with the Wildcats prevailing 10-8. Tuesday’s rematch is set for 5 p.m. at San Rafael High.
No. 12 Novato (8-7) opens with a road game against No. 5 Amador Valley at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Top-seeded San Marin (13-5) is one of two Marin teams in D-II along with No. 7 Branson (12-4). The Mustangs open at home at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday against No. 16 Bay. The Bulls host No. 10 Lick-Wilmerding at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Boys volleyball
Redwood (17-5), fresh off a 3-0 sweep against Tam in Friday’s MCAL title game, hosts No. 11 Arroyo in D-II at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The No. 10 Red-tailed Hawks (16-17) start with a road game against No. 7 Las Lomas at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The MCAL’s other two semifinalists — Archie Williams and Terra Linda — are in the D-III bracket. The No. 6 Peregrine Falcons (16-8) host No. 11 Cardinal Newman at 7 p.m. Tuesday while No. 13 TL (8-12) travels to face No. 4 Acalanes.
Finally, Branson (11-16) secured the No. 13 seed in the D-IV brackets and opens on the road at No. 4 College Prep at 7 p.m. Tuesday.