Boys soccer: Archie Williams scores golazo to win section title

Jackson Richardson and Jake Morrison stood over a free kick for Archie Williams right at the edge of the 18-yard box in the North Coast Section Division II championship game against Granada in Livermore on Friday night.

Morrison moved first, running past the ball, then Richardson struck it cleanly past Granada’s outstretched goalkeeper into the upper, far corner of the net, scoring the eventual game winner in the 69th minute of a 3-2 victory.

Archie Williams (13-4-5) secured its first section title since a victory over Marin Academy in the D-III playoffs in 2022. The Peregrine Falcons fell to eventual champ Terra Linda in the D-III quarterfinals in 2023, then bowed out to Ukiah in last year’s D-III final.

The Peregrine Falcons trailed 1-0 for most of the first half but scored a pair of quick goals just before the break to take a 2-1 lead. Archie Williams took a long throw-in in the 39th minute. The ball popped out to Sean Chamberlin who promptly put it into the back of the net and got Archie Williams back on level terms at 1-1.

Within a minute or two later, in first-half stoppage time, the Peregrine Falcons were back at it again. Archie’s left back played a long ball to Willy Finley. the ball soared over the closest defender and Finley collected it, making a move around the central defender before putting it past the goalie for a 2-1 lead.

Granada appeared to tie the game in the 49th minute but the linesman had raised his flag for offside. The Matadors (15-8-1) equalized in the 55th minute.

The game was a far cry from the previous meeting between the two teams — a 6-4 victory by Granada at San Rafael’s inaugural Mission City Invitational back in December. The Matadors bolted out to a 5-0 lead at the half before the Peregrine Falcons stormed back to make a game of it before ultimately falling 6-4.

This story will be updated.