The CCS girls soccer playoffs start in around two weeks, but there is still a lot to sort out in terms of the respective league races and teams scrambling to grab as many points as they can in preparation for the section playoffs.
The WCAL race, as per usual, is one of the most competitive and tight races in the section. Three days earlier Mitty had taken sole possession of first place by avenging their loss to rival Presentation, but on the weekend traveled to San Francisco and lost to St. Ignatius, which now takes over first place. The Wildcats still have to travel back down to San Jose to take on Presentation while Mitty hopes to take care of business in the form of Sacred Heart Cathedral and Valley Christian and hope the Wildcats drop points. Regardless of how Mitty finishes, the Monarchs should have enough points to qualify for the Open playoff division if they don't win the WCAL.
Leland has opened up a one game lead in the BVAL-Mt. Hamilton Division ahead of rival Leigh. The Chargers have three games remaining and all look to be winnable games at home. In the Santa Teresa Division of the BVAL, Westmont has opened up a substantial lead against second place Prospect despite losing and tying to Prospect earlier in the season. Gunderson looks to be in great shape to take the West Valley Division title and the lone playoff berth, and the Grizzlies could be a dangerous team in the playoffs with junior Tanya Avila and her 24 goals scored, especially if they fall into a lower playoff bracket.
Aragon and Menlo-Atherton find themselves tied atop the PAL-Bay Division standings with an Open playoff spot on the line. While the teams don't play each other again, they both play Burlingame, who finds itself only a game behind the leaders and could play its way back into the title race with only three games to go. Sequoia is in first play in the PAL Ocean standings and Half Moon Bay is in first place in the PAL Lake standings, and both look to have automatic playoff berths locked up.
Christopher, which won only two games in its non-league schedule, finds itself in first place in the PCAL-Gabilan Division, along with San Benito. Senior Aurea Martin is again one of the top goal-scorers in the section for Christopher. The Haybalers could look back to Jan. 24, when they lost to Christoper. Aptos has eked out a small lead two point lead in the SCCAL over Soquel. The two meet on Feb. 7 in what could be a league decider, Santa Cruz looks just to be on the outside, but should comfortably be in the CCS field.
It will come down to the wire in the SCVAL-De Anza Division between Los Gatos and Homestead. The Wildcats defeated Homestead both games this season, but only have a one point lead with two games remaining for both teams. Los Altos looks to comfortably take the SCVAL-El Camino Division with a nine point lead and looks to be a force to reckon with in the CCS playoffs.
The regular season for all CCS leagues will end in just over a week and this year's playoffs look to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. With this years new format changes with divisions being sorted by point total, versus school enrollment size, all divisions look to truly be wide open.
