Williams named state soccer player of the year

Reed Williams, the goal-scoring machine behind Corona del Mar's historic boys soccer season, has been selected the Gatorade California Boys Soccer Player of the Year. He is the first Sea King to receive the award.

The award recognizes more than just on-the-field performance, rewarding character and academic achievement as well.

"I am very happy for Reed. With all of the talent in California, it is a real accomplishment to win the Gatorade Player of the Year," Corona del Mar coach George Larsen said. "Reed was a player that impacted every grame that he played in all the way throught the state championship."

Williams proved throughout the season he was among the most talented forwards in the CIF Southern Section. He led the Sea Kings to their first soccer title in school history - and that includes both the boys and girls teams - scoring one of the Sea Kings' two goals in the Division IV title game against La Mirada.

La Mirada double-teamed the UCLA-bound forward in the corner of the field at Mission Viejo High. Yet, Williams managed to keep control of the ball, dribbling around them as he avoided going over the touch line. When he got to the top of the box, he fired a shot that wrapped around the keeper and into the top corner of the goal.

But he didn't stop there. He headed in the game-winner against Santa Barbara during the CIF State Division II championship. Coming into that game, Santa Barbara, then ranked No. 2 nationally by ESPN, had rolled over the competition, outscoring its opponents, 117-12, during the season and 26-2 in the playoffs.

To earn a date with Santa Barbara, the Sea Kings had to first defeat JSerra, the CIF-SS Division I champions. Williams scored twice in the Sea Kings' 3-2 triumph.

Williams proved quickly he was the best pure goal scorer in the county, finishing with 19 goals in his first nine games before he was sidelined by an injury. 

Even though he missed nearly a month due to a pulled hamstring, he still finished the season with 32 goals, giving him 69 goals during his varsity career.

Williams, however, did more than just score. He had the ability to make those around him better. Take his pass in the closing minutes of the Sea Kings game against University, for example. He sent the ball flying to the far post, catching McBean in stride. McBean headed the ball in, scoring the game-winning goal, which ultimately allowed Corona del Mar to finish the season as the Pacific Coast League co-champions.

Williams, the CIF-SS Division IV Offensive Player of the Year, ended the season with 12 assists.

He excelled in the classroom as well, maintaining a 3.64 GPA, and serving as a math tutor at Corona del Mar.

Williams is now eligible for the national Gatorade award, which will be announced in May. See Gatorade's press release.