“This feels good, especially after last year when we went out in the quarters,” Williams said during a phone interview. “But it’s not enough. We want the whole thing. We definitely want to win it all. That’s our goal, to win everything. That’s been our goal since the beginning of the season. We won’t go down without a fight that’s for sure.”
The Sea Kings, ranked No. 12 in the nation by ESPN RISE, will slug it out with North Torrance in a semifinal match at CdM Tuesday, scheduled for 3 p.m. North Torrance (16-5-5), the Pioneer League champion, defeated visiting Norwalk, 2-1.
Last year’s quarterfinals left CdM disappointed because it had a 3-2 lead. But Rio Mesa of Oxnard scored with two minutes left in regulation and again with two minutes left in sudden-death double overtime.
The Sea Kings, co-champions of the Pacific Coast League, believe they are more talented and experienced this season. They certainly boast a tremendous duo up front in Williams and McBean.
“They are starting to find each other and play real well with each other,” CdM first-year coach George Larsen said during a phone interview. “That is really encouraging and that is definitely a good sign for us at this point in the season.”
After a scoreless first half, McBean scored off an assist from sophomore Jack Gorab, six minutes into the second half.
Six minutes later, Williams found the back of the net with an assist from McBean.
“They were a stingy bunch,” Larsen said of the Phantoms (14-5-3). “They defended with their lives. They protected their goal well. They were a pretty scrappy bunch.
“But once we came out in the second half, we came out with a better purpose. It didn’t take us long to open it up.”
The CdM defense also came to play, as it recorded its 12th shutout of the season.
Sophomore goalkeeper Connor Gaal led the way with six saves. But he hasn’t been the only sophomore who has been contributing on defense, Larsen said. Gorab, as well as Greg Allen were protecting the back with stopper Sjell Walker. Matt Francini, a fullback, also supported.
Senior Alex Mainthow started at stopper before being moved to a midfielder.
The Sea Kings are also gaining momentum with a healthy Williams.
Williams, who had dealt with a right hamstring injury earlier in the season, says he doesn’t feel any pain in his leg.
“I think this would be my first week being 100% in a while,” he said.
He plans to give it his all against North Torrance on Tuesday.
— From staff reports
