Bellarmine is now projected as the No. 4 seed in the CCS Open.
(Dennis Putian/Special to Prep2Prep)
Prep2Prep CCS Boys Soccer Playoff Projections
UPDATED 2/14/2019
We present the Central Coast Section Boys Soccer Playoff Projections based on the latest information available to Prep2Prep through the matches
of February 13, the final day of the regular season. We have done our best to accurately portray the schedules and results of the 100+ teams that compete in the Central Coast Section.
Half Moon Bay and Gunn look like they are going to take the last two at-large bids based on their wins over league champs on the final day of the season. Half Moon Bay defeated
Burlingame, which had already clinched the PAL-Bay Division, to get to 40 CCS points. Gunn knocked off Cupertino, which had already won the SCVAL-El Camino and in fact had
incentive to lose and remain a high seed in Division 3.
Finally, according to league sources, Santa Clara forfeited its match against Mountain View, thereby taking itself out of contention.
As a result, here is a look at the CCS playoff bubble. The last few at-large spots belong to: Sacred Heart Cathedral (41.5 CCS points), Wilcox (40.5), Half Moon Bay (40) and
Gunn (37.5). Harker also finishes with 37.5, but would lose the bonus point tiebreaker to Gunn. Remarkably, it's the third consecutive season the Titans have earned an
at-large spot from the SCVAL-EC and two of those came when Gunn finished third.
These projections are based on our best available information; if you would like to correct a team's result, please do so directly on that team's Prep2Prep page,
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CCS has implemented an Open Division for boys soccer. The 5 "A" league champions plus the next three highest point-total
getters will comprise an eight-team elite playoff field. The only "B" teams eligible are those in standalone leagues, but they are required to opt up prior to the seeding
meeting. The other 32 teams in the playoff field will be split according to their CCS point totals with the top 8 in Division 1, the next 8 in Division 2, the next 8 in Division 3
and the final 8 in Division 4.
For the formula used to calculate CCS points, please click
here. Keep in mind that only a team's final 18 games count
toward CCS point-total calculations. Also, a team must have at least a .500 record in league or overall to be considered.
In the first round, teams from the same league cannot face each other, so seedings are adjusted to
avoid such matchups. Also first- and second-place teams from the same league cannot be placed in the same side of the bracket so we avoid those
situations as well.
First, a few assumptions:
ASSUMPTION 1: points are calculated on the assumption that an individual team will lose the rest of its games. The bonus points for playing
a league champion are included in the calculation. In other words, the point total you see represents the minimum point total for a given
team as of today. We determine league champions based on points per game, which is especially relevant in cases where the teams have not
played the same number of games.
ASSUMPTION 2: in calculating points awarded for playing league champions, points were split according to the number of teams currently
tied for first place. For instance, per CCS rules, teams are awarded bonus points for playing a league champion; if a team played a team
that is currently in a three-way tie for first, we credit the team one-third of the points. If two teams at the top of a league have not played the
same number of games, we assume league champ based on points per game.
ASSUMPTION 3: for out-of-section teams that we were unable to find accurate records, we assumed them to be "B" teams and not division champs.
ASSUMPTION 4: teams will apply for CCS and we will use league bylaws to determine order of finish as applicable. For instance if two at-large
teams apply for CCS from the same league, some league's bylaws mandate that the team that finished higher in the league standings must get in
first whereas other leagues rank at-large teams based on CCS points. We are assuming no teams will pull out of consideration.
ASSUMPTION 5: the PCAL holds a playoff to determine the final automatic bid pitting the second-place team in the Cypress against the champion
of the Santa Lucia Division. For now we will choose the team that is rated higher in the Prep2Prep computer rankings.
NOTE: CCS points are in parentheses and the projected home team is listed in CAPS.
OPEN DIVISION:
All the automatic qualifiers are set after Branham claimed the final "A" league title with a 2-1 win over Prospect. The Bruins join St. Ignatius, Burlingame, Watsonville and
Los Gatos. Those five teams will be joined by at-large locks Bellarmine (56) and Soledad (53.5). There is a battle going on for the final at-large spot.
Sacred Heart Prep and Menlo-Atherton are tied at 52.5 for the final at-large berth but SHP beat M-A head-to-head. SHP has already indicated to Prep2Prep that it will opt
up. If for some reason, the final spot goes to M-A, the teams would simply swap places. Branham (52.5 points) would win a tiebreaker with SHP, but would lose out to M-A and
wind up as the No. 7 seed taking on St. Ignatius.
We had to move Bellarmine down a spot to avoid being on the same side of the bracket as St. Ignatius.
DIVISION 1: After the eight top teams are placed in the Open, the 8 teams with the next highest point totals are placed in Division 1.
DIVISION 2: The next 8 teams as ranked by CCS point total are placed in Division 2.
DIVISION 3: The next 8 teams as ranked by CCS point total are placed in Division 3.
DIVISION 4: The final 8 teams as ranked by CCS point total are placed in Division 4.
As mentioned earlier, there are a total of 12 at-large teams included in the complete field of 40 CCS playoff teams. Here's a brief look at
the list of at-large teams, including the last five teams that made it based on our CCS point calculations and the first five that would be left out if the season ended now.