Soccer teams learn CIF opponents

CIF playoff brackets for boys and girls soccer were released on Monday, the day after water polo and boys and girls basketball.

The girls start first, with first-round games scheduled on Thursday afternoon. The boys’ first round is underway on Friday. Wild-card games take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. Of our seven high schools playing soccer, five boys teams and five girls teams are active in the CIF Southern Section-Ford Championships.

Several boys teams could make deep runs.

Cate’s undefeated boys team (17-0) enters the Division VII field seeking a CIF title and a perfect season. The top-seeded Rams open up against a wild-card winner on Friday at home.

Santa Barbara High’s boys team won the Division II title last year before moving up to Division I this season with CIF runner-up Dos Pueblos. The Dons (16-5-3) placed second in the Channel League and were awarded a home game in the first round, against Chaminade, and have a chance to reach the quarterfinals without having to face a league champion.

Dos Pueblos (17-6-1) does not have that luxury as the league’s third-place team and has to travel to Almont League champ Schurr. Laguna Blanca, another third-place team, will travel to Camino Real League No. 1 Don Bosco Tech.

Carpinteria’s team won the Tri-Valley League and enters the postseason on a hot streak. The Warriors (16-3-3) have won six straight and 11 of their last 13 games. The Warriors received an opening-round home game against El Monte.

For the girls, Dos Pueblos, Laguna Blanca and Cate are hosting games in the first round on Thursday. Bishop Diego hosts a wild-card game on Tuesday for the right to play on.

The Chargers (16-5) placed second in league and will take on Mira Costa in the first round. DP is 7-2 at home this season.

Santa Barbara, which travels on Thursday, drew a tough first-round opponent in Marmonte League champion Westlake.

Cate and Laguna, which finished first and second in the Condor League, are both set up at home in the first round but would have to play league champions in the second round. Cate is in line to face Division VI’s overall top seed in St. Margaret’s in the second round.

CIF Southern Section-Ford Championships

Opening Week Schedule

TUESDAY
CIF GIRLS WATER POLO
Redondo at San Marcos, 3 p.m. (Wild-Card Game)
Mayfield at Carpinteria, 5 p.m.
Cate at Downey, 5 p.m.
CIF GIRLS SOCCER
Coachella Valley at Bishop Diego, 3 p.m. (Wild-Card Game)

WEDNESDAY
CIF GIRLS WATER POLO
WC winner at Dos Pueblos, 5 p.m
Palos Verdes at Santa Barbara, 5 p.m.
CIF BOYS BASKETBALL
Bolsa Grande at San Marcos, 7 p.m.
Laguna Blanca at L.A. Adventist, 7 p.m.
AGBU at Bishop Diego, 7 p.m.
Carpinteria at Laguna Beach, 7 p.m.
Dos Pueblos at Segerstrom, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY
CIF GIRLS BASKETBALL
Dos Pueblos at St. Mary’s Academy, 7 p.m.
Santa Barbara at Kennedy, 7 p.m.
Carpinteria at Marymount, 7 p.m.
Bishop Diego at Pomona Catholic, 7 p.m.
Calvary Chapel at Cate, 7 p.m.
Providence Hall at Coast Union, 7 p.m.
Laguna Blanca at Chadwick, 7 p.m.
CIF GIRLS SOCCER
Mira Costa at Dos Pueblos, 3 p.m.
Santa Barbara at Westlake, 3 p.m.
Sacred Heart Jesus at Laguna Blanca, 3 p.m.
Gladstone at Cate, 3 p.m.

FRIDAY
CIF BOYS BASKETBALL
Second Round, TBA
CIF BOYS SOCCER
Chaminade at Santa Barbara, 3 p.m.
Dos Pueblos at Schurr, 3 p.m.
El Monte at Carpinteria, 3 p.m.
WC winner at Cate, 3 p.m.
Laguna Blanca at Don Bosco Tech, 3 p.m.
CIF GIRLS WATER POLO
Second Round, TBA

SATURDAY
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Second Round, TBA
WRESTLING
CIF Individual Divisional Finals