Dramatic Victory Keeps Boys Soccer NCS Hopes Alive, Girls Soccer Closes in on NCS Berth

As the Winter Sports’ East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) season winds down, the action intensifies and the stakes get higher with each passing contest. This week saw consequential results for Dublin’s Boys and Girls Basketball and Soccer teams as each program makes a postseason push.

Sitting two games below a .500 winning percentage heading into the week with an overall record of 3-5-5, the Varsity Boys Soccer team was desperate for a win on Tuesday in order to keep its playoff hopes alive. Trailing 1-0 to Amador Valley with under 10 minutes remaining in the match, the Gaels were able to score 2 goals to come away with a much-needed 2-1 victory.

The equalizier came on a cross from Thomas Crowder off a corner kick that was headed in by Ethan Kennedy. After what appeared to be the go-ahead goal was called off, freshman Colton Kramer played a header that went through the Dons defense and scored the game-winner in the match’s final seconds for what was essentially a walk-off victory.

Despite losing to Granada on Thursday, the Gaels are in a position to qualify for the North Coast Section playoffs if it can secure home victories in the final week over Kennedy-Fremont (Saturday at 1:00) and San Ramon Valley (Tuesday at 6:30) along with in the season finale at Freedom on February 8th.

On the Girls side, the Gaels appear closer to clinching a North Coast Section berth following a 3-3 tie against Granada on Thursday. Dublin is now 6-4-2 overall and 2-3-2 in EBAL with two matches remaining. If the Gaels can secure a victory or tie in one of its final two matches either at San Ramon Valley on February 4th or at home against Dougherty Valley on Thursday, February 6th (6:30), the Gaels will be guaranteed to end the season above .500 and will have a qualifying record for NCS.

If Dublin were to lose its final two matches and finish the regular season with an overall record of 6-6-2, it could still qualify for NCS provided they didn’t simultaneously qualify for the EBAL Playoffs with a 6th place finish in league (which would be possible). In that scenario, a loss in the first round of the EBAL playoffs would push Dublin under .500 at the end of the season. So in summary, Dublin really needs a win or tie in the final week of the regular season, or in an odd twist would actually benefit from missing the EBAL playoffs altogether to avoid a must-win scenario to advance to NCS.