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LAUREN FROHAN'S BRACE LEADS MARIN FC SIREN TO VICTORY

Marin FC Siren Remains Undefeated with Three Clean Sheets and Conceded Only Two Goals As Season Hits Halfway Mark
Published Jun 21, 2022
Written By:  Katie Parker
             West Region Contributor

 

Marin FC Siren’s 2-0 win against the San Francisco Nighthawks over the weekend moved the club just two points behind second-place Bay Area Surf and five behind Pac North Conference leader California Storm with half the season left to play.


Marin is now 3-0-2 on the season. While they’ve each recorded at least one draw, Marin, Storm, and Bay Area Surf remain the conference’s only undefeated sides.


The Nighthawks, currently in the middle of the table, connected short, snappy passes and continuously pushed forward during Saturday’s match in San Jose, Calif., but wasn’t able to convert its opportunities.


Forward Lauren Frohan, University of the Pacific senior, became Marin’s secret weapon. In a first half that saw San Francisco hold onto possession the majority of the time, Frohan capitalized on Marin’s very first chance at goal. In the 18’ Alison McNeal, a Dominican University of California senior, sent a perfectly paced through ball to Frohan who timed her run beautifully and released a screamer from the top of the penalty box into the upper 90.

 

“We knew the Nighthawks would be a tough opponent, and that we would have to be comfortable without the ball as much as we would like to have it,” Tyler Gottschalk, Marin FC Siren head coach, said. “We focused on staying compact and our decision making with the ball when we did win it. The Nighthawks pressed us all match. Credit to the girls for looking to build when we could and choosing to just play it out of pressure when we needed to.”

 

The ‘Hawks had plenty of chances - like one in the 55’, with a really nice build up out of the defensive third. Alex Carpio, standout at the University of San Francisco, inched toward the touch line undetected and raced forward when the ball was brought up the center of the field. She fired her first touch toward the top of the net, but Marin’s keeper, Patricia DePalma, an incoming Branson High School senior, got a hand on it and redirected it over the crossbar. 

 

In the 63’, Frohan struck again. This time off a cross from Bri Salvetti, incoming St. Mary’s College freshman, to the backdoor where Frohan positioned herself for an easy tap in. 

 

“Her movement off the ball was the difference tonight, timing her run to perfection on the first goal, and arriving at the right moment at the back post for her second,” Gottschalk said. “Lauren missed our first few games due to illness, has worked hard to get back to full fitness, and this is the kind of impact she can have when she is healthy.”

 

Marin has kept a clean sheet the last three matches and only allowed two goals in five games. Gottschalk credits that to massive saves from DePalma and a solid defensive core of centre-backs who have played Marin FC club ball together for six years: Kaya Lash, who’s attending the University of California, Los Angeles next year, and incoming Tufts University freshman Lena Sugrue.

 

Saturday’s win marked the midway point of Marin’s season. Starting Wednesday the club plays four games in nine days, facing conference front runners California Storm twice in that time.

 

“We will continue to focus on the quality we can bring to each game individually and as a group, continue to support each other through the difficult moments of matches, and continue to give everything we have for each other,” said Gottschalk. “If that leads to more points, that is just a bonus.” 

 

Marin’s next match is on the road against FC Davis on Wednesday, June 22 at 7 PM Pacific. Watch the action live on Eleven Sports, the official streaming partner of the WPSL.