Archie Williams nets late winner to return to final
Sean Chamberlin scored off a long throw-in taken by Max Crock late in the first overtime period as the Archie Williams High boys soccer team advanced to its second section title in three seasons following a dramatic 2-1 road win at Analy on Tuesday night.
“Max Crock threw a laser in there,” Archie Williams coach Rene Ayala said. “Sean Chamberlin was able to win his matchup and hammer his header home and that was the game.”
The No. 7 Peregrine Falcons (11-6-4) have taken down No. 2 seed Piedmont and No. 3 Analy en route to the final. Archie Williams travels to face No. 4 Ukiah (15-3-4) — a 3-0 winner against No. 9 San Rafael — for the North Coast Section Division III title at 7 p.m. on Friday.
“We did see (Ukiah) in the preseason,” Ayala said. “They were strong then. They 4-1ed us. Really strong on the ball, they possessed. … It’s going to be a challenge but at this point we’re just going to ride this momentum and see how far it can carry us.”
Archie Williams last made it to the D-III final two years ago as the No. 2 seed, taking down topseeded Marin Academy 2-1 to claim the title.
The Peregrine Falcons are now qualified for next week’s NorCal playoffs. Archie Williams, a No. 7 seed in the 2022 NorCal D-II playoffs, made it all the way to the final that year, losing a rematch against No. 8 seed Marin Academy.
The Peregrine Falcons got off to a fast start against Analy (17-2-2), controlling the opening 15 minutes before eventually scoring on a penalty kick in the 18th minute. Cole Sullivan was taken down inside the box and Willy Finley converted the spot kick to put the Peregrine Falcons in front.
Analy tied the game in the 67th minute but Archie Williams was able to survive a late offensive onslaught and get the game into overtime.
“To Analy’s credit, they were all over us,” Ayala said. “I told the guys that usually in games like this, when you gave up the lead and the other team has all this momentum, usually the heartbreak goes the other way.”
MC girls advance
Marin Catholic got goals from Ava Korich, Caroline McCarty, and Sloane Carey in building a threegoal lead then held off a late charge by Urban for a 3-2 victory in the NCS D-IV semifinals on Wednesday.
The No. 3 Wildcats (15-24) advance to the section final against top-seeded University (17-1-4), which defeated Sonoma Academy 3-0 in the other semifinal. In addition, MC qualified for next week’s NorCal playoffs for the first time in program history.
MC avenged one of its two losses this season with the victory against No. 2 Urban (14-6-1) at Beach Chalet #2. Korich got the Wildcats on the board in the first half, scoring directly on a free kick from 30-plus yards out.
McCarty headed home a second goal from close ranged off a corner kick taken by Carey in the 28th minute and the Wildcats took a 2-0 lead into the break. Carey added a third goal from long range before Urban scored twice in the final 20 minutes.
Around the county
In addition to the San Rafael boys (9-8-4) seeing their season end one win shy of a NorCal playoff berth, the girls teams from Marin Academy and The Branson School also bowed out of the section playoffs on Tuesday.
Branson (18-2-5), the No. 3 seed in the D-II playoffs, battled No. 2 Las Lomas (17-1-5) to a scoreless tie through regulation and two overtime periods. The Bulls lost 5-3 in the ensuing penalty shootout.
Marin Academy (12-71), the No. 3 seed in D-III, trailed by only a goal entering the final 10 minutes at No. 2 Cardinal Newman (11-0-4) before falling 3-0 on Tuesday.