Boys soccer: Archie Williams caps season with historic NorCal title

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Jake Morrison (2) of Archie Williams holds up his team's plaque as they celebrate after defeating Hillsdale 5-1 at the NorCal Division III championship game boys soccer game in San Anselmo, Calif. on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)

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After enduring a postseason of heartache last year, the Archie Williams High boys soccer team capped this campaign with the most emphatic of triumphs.

Willy Finley scored three times inside a seven-minute span in the first half then added a fourth goal for good measure to lead the host Peregrine Falcons to the first NorCal title in program history following a 5-1 win over Hillsdale in the Division III championship on Saturday.

“We got a feeling of losing so many times last year and watching the other team celebrate and having the time of their lives,” Finley said. “My mindset going into this year was we are going to be that other team and we are going to be celebrating. We’ve worked so hard this whole season. We’ve grown such a great bond with the guys. Our will to work, to work together and win for each other, not just for ourselves – I think that’s what powered us to win these championships.”

Archie Williams (16-4-5) was appearing in its sixth consecutive championship game – MCAL, North Coast Section, and NorCals – over the past two seasons. Last season all three games ended in disappointment and this postseason began when Redwood scored late to beat Archie Williams 3-2 in the MCAL final three weeks ago.

“Having those heart-wrenching experiences, they harm you a little bit,” Archie Williams coach Rene Ayala said. “They give you perspective. They give you that knowledge and that wisdom that you need in moments like these – those championship moments when you have to make that key tackle, make that pass, finish the play. These guys learned the hard way how to do that, how to become winners. They’re immortalized, man. They’re going to be champions forever.”

Archie Williams won the NCS D-II title last weekend with a dramatic 3-2 win over Granada. Hillsdale (21-2-2) vanquished Granada 2-0 in the NorCal semifinals on Thursday to set up this final.

The Fighting Knights had conceded only seven goals all season but had no answer at all for Finley, who outmuscled defenders inside the 18-yard box repeatedly while scoring in the 16th, 20th, and 22nd minutes to get the Peregrine Falcons off to a dream start.

“It was just one of those days where every time I got my left foot on the ball, it felt like it was going to find its way into the back of the net,” Finley said.

Finley’s first two goals came after set pieces taken near midfield by center back Hayden Bremer. The third game came following a long throw-in by Jake Morrison.

Goalie Jack Kasin came up with a pair of saves in the 32nd and 33rd minutes to help Archie Williams take the 3-0 lead into the half. Kasin was pressed into duty after starting goalie Aidan Dunn tore his ACL in the first round of the NCS playoffs.

“Jack has just been phenomenal for me,” Dunn said. “He’s one of my closest friends on the team.”

Hillsdale briefly climbed back into the game after scoring in the 42nd minute. That goal led to about 10 minutes of sustained pressure from Hillsdale.

“We knew they were going to make a push in the second half and the worst-case scenario, first minute, bang,” Ayala said of the goal. “That was a huge momentum crusher for us. I thought the game was won between the 42nd minute and the 50th. I feel like we kind of stemmed the tide a little bit, defending some set pieces, corners, throw-ins. They were throwing the kitchen sink at us.”

Finley put the outcome beyond reach with his fourth goal of the game in the 52nd minute for a 4-1 lead.

“He’s kind of our rock,” Archie Williams forward Sean Chamberlin said of Finley. “We play it up to him and I think he worked harder than everyone else. So all credit to him. He’s an incredible player.”

The only drama left in the game at that point was whether or not Chamberlin would cap his postseason by scoring a goal in all nine games. Chamberlain did just that in the 62nd minute for the final margin in an historic victory.

“Selfishly, my son is on the team,” Ayala said. “Xavier, he’s our right center back and he had a great game today. Just to share this with him in my 19th year here coaching at Archie, it’s just – I don’t know – I just can’t think of a better way to end this season and to end his career. He’s a senior now. Not just him, all the boys. On the field, this is by far the biggest moment of my career for sure.”

After enduring three losses in championship games last year, Archie Williams finished this campaign as MCAL regular-season champions, NCS D-II champions, and NorCal D-III champions.

“It’s been driving them a lot and I wanted to help win it for them because they deserve a trophy,” Archie Williams midfielder Jackson Richardson said. “This program deserves a trophy and I wanted to be a part of helping them get there.”

Richardson played for MLS Next last season but opted to play high school soccer this season and was one of the team’s key additions – scoring the winning goals in both the NCS semifinal and final.

“I’ve known coach Ayala ever since I was a freshman at this school and I’ve always recognized his lessons on integrity and his focus on it,” Richardson said. “I’ve always noticed the power of this family on this team and this program and I wanted to make sure I was a part of it senior year. I enjoyed my time at my MLS Next team but I’ve learned so much as a person on this program and I’m so glad I did it.”

Boys soccer: Archie Williams caps season with historic NorCal title

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