Not only did all four of the top seeds in the North Coast Section Division IV girls soccer playoffs advance to the semifinals, they did so with relative ease, as every quarterfinal match-up was decided by two goals or more.
The closest game of the four was four-seed Piedmont's 2-0 win over Head-Royce. Junior Ceci Brien, who leads the Highlanders with 17 goals, had a pair of assists in this one, setting up juniors Ashley Nelson and Fiona Hunter. Piedmont advances to face top seed Cardinal Newman, which routed University-SF, 4-0.
Three-seed Marin Academy got a hat trick from junior Lucinda Anderson, giving her 15 goals for the year, as the Wildcats cruised past Urban, 5-1. It was their third win over the Blues this season. Junior Meredith Stais and freshman Rebecca Sherry, who also had two assists, each scored in the victory. Marin Academy advances to face Branson, who scored three times in the second half to pull away from Sonoma Academy. The second-seeded Bulls are seeking their fourth straight section title, in as many years under head coach Tyler Gottschalk.