Boys water polo: Archie Williams gains momentum for playoffs

Archie Williams High, a title contender throughout the regular season, is heading into the Marin County Athletic League playoffs with a five-game winning streak and the confidence that comes with being the No. 2 seed.

Marin Academy is on the outside looking in for now after missing out on a MCAL playoff berth, but is still keeping its section title hopes alive. Both teams entered Wednesday’s regular-season finale looking for a spark that will carry them through the postseason.

“This was an exciting game,” Archie Williams senior goalkeeper Haakon Lacy said after the Peregrine Falcons’ 18-10 victory over Marin Academy. “This felt like a close game. Marin Academy has some good players.”

Archie Williams (14-5, 8-1 MCAL) is locked in as the second seed for the MCAL playoffs, behind top seed Tam (17-5, 8-1), which wrapped up the regular season title with a 16-11 win over Novato on Wednesday. Terra Linda and Redwood, both 6-2 entering Thursday’s games, fill out the playoff field. The MCAL playoffs begin next Wednesday at Marin Academy, with the title game on Oct. 28.

Looking around the pool on the San Anselmo campus, Lacy was struck by a thought.

“This was my last home game,” he said. “It’s just starting to settle in. I’ve spent so many years here playing club and high school games.”

The Peregrine Falcons made sure it was a memorable one as they got off to a fast start with five quick goals.

“We were lethargic at first, then rebounded, but we didn’t play well in the second period,” Marin Academy coach Joe Doyle said. “Archie Williams is a great team. We had our hands full.”

The Peregrine Falcons had the hot hand to start, with back-to-back goals from Vincent Krilarouch, who finished with five goals. Teammate Jacob Carrera tacked on a goal with a bouncer under the goalkeeper’s outstretched arm for the first of his three goals in the opening period. Hayden Long followed with the first of his five goals for the Falcons.

By then, Tucker Byrne had seen enough. He drove hard against the Falcons defense to score back-to-back goals in less than a minute. The Falcons responded with three goals of their own before Schuyler Rewick scored twice in the final minute of the first period to close the Peregrine Falcons’ lead to 7-4.

“They started to challenge us, but we were able to shut them down in the second period. That was key,” Lacy said.

Archie Williams outscored Marin Academy 6-1 in the second period for an eight-goal lead by halftime.

“Our defense was not where it needed to be,” Doyle said. “There was too much of a lack of communication and too many little things that cost us.”

Lucas Silva, Whit Flake, Nolan Andrews and Nolan Anduson each scored a goal for the Falcons.

Byrne and Rewick both finished with four goals for Marin Academy, which also got goals from Michael Yoder and Zachary Schuman.

“I hope we can replicate the lessons we’ve learned this season during the playoffs,” said Doyle, whose squad is a contender for the top seed in the North Coast Section Division II tournament.