Boys soccer: First-half flurry puts Archie Williams in final

Cole Sullivan and Max Crock combined to score three goals during a 10-minute span to lead the Archie Williams High boys soccer team to a 3-2 upset win against University in San Francisco on Thursday.

The No. 5 Peregrine Falcons picked up their second consecutive road victory in the NorCal Division IV playoffs, taking out the top-seeded Red Devils. Dating back to 2022, the Peregrine Falcons have won four consecutive NorCal road playoff games.

Archie Williams (13-7-4) advances to the final — another road game at No. 2 King City (13-4-3) at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Red Devils (18-7-2) got off to a fast start on Thursday and jumped out to a 1-0 lead.

“University jumped all over us in the first ten minutes of the game,” Archie Williams coach Rene Ayala wrote in a text message. “Their possession and movement off the ball was crisp and it took us a bit to adjust.”

Sullivan, fresh off a five-goal game in the quarterfinal against Galt, continued his torrid scoring with the first of his two goals to tie the game at 1-1.

Crock put the Peregrine Falcons in front then Sullivan found the back of the net again for a quick 3-1 lead that they took into the half. University pulled within 3-2 after a successful counterattack in the 52nd minute. Both teams created chances from there but the Peregrine Falcons held on for the victory.

“Super proud of the boys for going on the road, often traveling for hours at a time, and getting it done at talented, well-coached teams,” Ayala wrote.

Archie Williams advances to its second NorCal title game in three years having made it to the D-II final as a No. 7 seed in 2022. Both Archie Williams and No. 8 Marin Academy won road games in the quarterfinals and semifinals that year before meeting in the final in San Anselmo. Marin Academy won that game 3-2.