The Sonoma County league boys soccer title will be decided in
the final game this week, as Analy and Sonoma battle it out for the
coveted crown.
At press time Analy (18-2-3, 8-1-2) was preparing to host the
Dragons (10-1 in SCL) in the SCL finale on Oct. 26 at Karlson
Field, with the league championship and an automatic North Coast
Section playoff berth going to the winner.
“I’m glad we’re in the position to have a chance to win the
league,” noted Analy veteran coach Peter Meechan. “Sonoma is a very
solid team and it will be a tough game. They have a lot of weapons
and hopefully we can nullify them.”
The Tigers played just one game last week, forging a
hard-fought, 3-3 tie against visiting Healdsburg.
Analy drew first blood when Armando Coronel found the net on an
assist from El Munger for a 1-0 lead. But the Hounds came right
back, scoring three times, including one goal on a penalty kick to
grab a shocking, 3-1 halftime advantage.
The Tigers came out firing after intermission, as Coronel
converted a penalty kick to close the deficit to 3-2. With less
than two minutes remaining in regulation, defensive sweeper Ryan
Willis (playing up) nailed the game-tying shot that would send it
into overtime knotted at 3-3.
The Tigers dominated the flow of play in two ten-minute overtime
periods in out-shooting the Hounds 5-0, but the game would end in a
3-3 tie.
Lions battle Jaguars, Hounds
El Molino could be labeled the hard-luck team of the SCL again
this season, as the Lions continue to give opponents all they can
handle. Last week’s games against Windsor and Healdsburg were a
prime example.
The Lions played the two-time defending champion Jaguars tooth
and nail in their Oct. 19 match, as Martin Newman found the net to
take an early, 1-0 lead. The game remained deadlocked at 1-1 until
three minutes remaining in the second half, when the Jags broke
through to emerge with a 2-1 win.
It was an impressive showing for the Lions, who attempted 22
shots on goal, and had six corner kicks, but were victimized by 12
off-sides calls and missed on a PK attempt.
El Mo finished off a competitive league season on Oct. 21
against Healdsburg, giving the Hounds a battle before falling, 5-3
(no stats were available).
