FALCONS TOP TAM FOR PLACE IN FINAL - Marin Independent Journal

BOYS SOCCER

FALCONS TOP TAM FOR PLACE IN FINAL

Archie Williams advances to third NorCal title game in four season

Archie Williams’ Sean Chamberlin (11) is defended by Tam defenders Cole Soto (23) and Matthew Murphy (26) at the NorCal Division III semifinal in San Anselmo on Thursday. Archie Williams defeated Tam 2-1. Chamberlin scored a goal in the game. PHOTOS BY SHERRY LAVARS — MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL

Willy Finley (6) of Archie Williams scores a goal against Tam at the NorCal Division III semifinal game in San Anselmo on Thursday.

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By Ian Ross

iross@marinij.com

Deep postseason runs are becoming quite the tradition for the Archie Williams High boys soccer team.

The Peregrine Falcons made their sixth consecutive final in all competitions and their third NorCal final in four years after a gritty 2-1 semifinal victory at home against MCAL rival Tam on Thursday.

“To go three times in four years — credit to the boys, credit to our culture, credit to the work ethic and the expectation they have,” Archie Williams coach Rene Ayala said. “Again, I’m going to harken back to the experience of being there before, knowing what it takes to get here. I just can’t wait until Saturday to see this place just full of people. Hopefully people in our county come out and support.

“I like to say that our boys are a likable bunch. We do things the right way and I’m just looking forward to the opportunity. Just to be in the final is a great accomplishment and we’re going to see if we can get over the hump this time.”

The No. 1 Peregrine Falcons (15-4-5) will seek their first NorCal title in program history at home at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Division III championship game against No. 2 Hillsdale (20-1-2) — 2-0 winners against No. 3 Granada (16-9-1) in the other semifinal.

“It feels great,” Archie Williams forward Willy Finley said. “I’m just thinking about all the work that we’ve put in this season and all the injuries and sicknesses that we’ve had to go through. It feels great. This is what we’ve worked for all season and to see it actually pan out, I’m proud of all the boys and hopefully we can get another championship.”

Archie Williams won the North Coast Section D-II championship last Saturday with a 3-2 road win over Granada.

The Peregrine Falcons seemed both lucky and unlucky to get into the half at 0-0 against Tam (13-7-5) on Thursday. Tam created two great chances in the first 15 minutes, forcing a big save from Jack Kasin in the eighth minute then hitting the crossbar in the 13th minute.

Sean Chamberlin had a header glance off the far post for Archie Williams in the 17th minute as the Peregrine Falcons grew into the game from there.

Finley turned Tam over just outside the 18-yard box in the 27th minute and was in on goal before being grabbed and pulled back by a Tam defender. Archie Williams wanted some kind of punishment on the play — a yellow card or possibly even a red — but no foul was called.

Archie Williams appeared to go up 1-0 in first-half stoppage time on a goal by Jordan Oliver Roa but it was called back when Finley was deemed to have interfered with Tam goalie Sam Clark.

“I give credit to our guys for not losing their heads when things weren’t going our way, for staying the course,” Ayala said.

As they have all postseason, the Peregrine Falcons leaned on the scoring prowess of Finley and Chamberlin — who has now scored in eight consecutive postseason games dating back to the last meeting between these two teams in the MCAL semifinals.

Archie Williams forged ahead 1-0 in the 43rd minute after a long throw in by Jake Morrison. Chamberlin won contested headers inside the 18-yard box all game long and did so again, finding Finley at the near post for the goal.

“I was definitely relieved,” said Finley, who was central to both of the controversial incidents in the first half. “It was a pretty frustrating game for me [up until then]. So it felt good to finally get on the scoreboard and put one in the back of the net. It gave me a chance to take a breath.”

Archie doubled the lead in the 57th minute after Chamberlin drew a foul inside the box then slotted his penalty kick home to go in front 2-0.

“(Archie midfielder Jackson Richardson) kind of took his time and saw me on the opposite side,” Chamberlin said. “I turned around then I took a touch past the defender and he kind of swept my legs.”

Archie had next to no time to get comfortable with its two-goal margin as Nate Wanger scored following an assist by Ivan Pudelka about two minutes later.

Archie Williams was able to see the game out but had to endure a few nervy moments, including a Tam free kick just outside the box in the final minute of stoppage time. Noah Pedersen served the ball into a dangerous area but Archie Williams was able to knock it clear. The referee blew for time and the Peregrine Falcons were able to celebrate a hard-earned victory.

“They’re an incredible team,” Chamberlin said of Tam. “They have a bunch of good guys, guys that I know from my club team. Obviously it was a dogfight out there. They came out fighting and they came back fighting after I scored the PK. It was definitely very hard to keep them from scoring after that but we were lucky to get it done.”