Tigers beat Petaluma to stay in NCS playoff hunt
The Sonoma County League soccer race is nearing the end this month, as Analy and El Molino varsity boys teams try to end the season on a winning note.
The Tigers (9-5, 5-3) are playing their best ball of the season of late, notching impressive recent wins over El Molino (3-0) and Petaluma (4-1).
At press time Analy was all alone in third place behind Piner (7-1) and Sonoma Valley (6-1-1) and preparing for a two-game home-stand beginning on Jan. 30 against Elsie Allen, followed by a Feb. 2 clash with Healdsburg.
Meanwhile the Lions (0-8, 0-11) remain in search of their first season win, with scheduled home matches with Petaluma (Jan. 30), Piner (Feb. 1, 5/7 p.m.). The Lions will visit Elsie Allen on Feb. 3 (5/7 p.m.).
Tigers in win column
The Lions played host to the Tigers in the second and final “apple match” on Jan. 23, with Analy’s Oliver Ziemer scoring a first-half goal to give his team a 1-0 halftime lead. The Tigers added on in the second period, getting scores from Ian Douch and Ethan Logan (assist from Ziemer) en route to a 3-0 win.
Analy traveled to Petaluma on Jan. 25, spotting the Trojans an early 1-0 lead. The Tigers got it going 15 minutes into the contest when Ziemer nailed a beautiful shot from 30 yards out, followed by a score from Sam Housman to grab a 2-1 lead.
Analy ended the half on a textbook give-and-go play from Armando Parra to Housman, putting it past the Petaluma goalie for a 3-1 halftime advantage. The Tigers tallied a second-half insurance goal by Parra for an eventual 4-1 win. Credit goalie Charles Janssen with a great game for the Tigers.
