Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Afifi’s Free Kick Lifts Falcons to 2-1 Triumph over Wildwood in PBL Soccer Playoffs
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Win as a team or lose as a team, but always stick together. That is the formula for the St. Matthew’s soccer squad this season and it led to a victory over Wildwood on Monday afternoon in the Pacific Basin League quarterfinals.
The contest was tied 1-1 before Logan Afifi scored the decider on a free kick 10 minutes into the second half and the host Falcons advanced to Wednesday’s semifinals against Geffen.
In the first half, Max Dorband scored on a header off Afifi’s corner kick for St. Matthew’s, but Brian Palomo netted the equalizer for Wildwood on a header of his own late in the first half.
Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Rounding out the the Falcons’ resilient group of 6th, 7th and 8th-grade boys and girls were team captain Beckett Hoffman, goalkeeper Devon Havens, Brandon Elliott, Fritz Griffith, Cain Williamson, Sophia Martin, Hayden Prince, Griffin Boccella, Grace Taylor, Mae Durkin, Elise McLoughlin, Sullivan Smith-Davis, Reed Cassidy, Caroline McCarthy and Amanda Gutierrez-Silva.
“This team’s biggest strength is that all of the players work very hard for each other and have a never give up attitude,” said Derek Martin, who coaches the team alongside Ben Juergens. “The kids have worked hard to reach this point.
The win upped the Falcons’ overall record to three wins, two losses and two draws.
Palomo, Grant Perdew, Tyler Moglen, Moses Wilson, Marco Della Penna Rafacz, Dukane Wong and Jasper Bangs excelled for the visiting Wolves, coached by Herach Danlyan.
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