SOCCER: Several teams advance to CIF quarterfinals
CALEXICO- The CIFSan Diego Section Divisional Soccer Playoffs got underway this week with seven boys’ and seven girls’ teams advancing to the divisional quarterfinals starting today.
In 2024 CIF boys Divisional Soccer Playoff opening-round boys soccer action on Tuesday, the Division I fifth-seed Imperial Valley League co-champion Calexico Bulldogs defeated the visiting twelfth-seeded Coronado High Islanders by a score of 4-0 at Ward Field.
For the Bulldogs, Gael Melendez scored on a penalty kick in the 23rd minute of the first half to give Calexico a 1-0 lead at halftime before Jay Patino, Benny Peterson, and Angel Ortega added insurance goals in the second half to back up goalkeeper Antonio Cruz’s shut-out performance in goal.
Today, Friday, February 16th, in a CIF Division I quarterfinal match, Calexico will travel to San Diego’s North County to meet the fourth-seeded Westhills High Wolverines at 5:00 p.m.
In CIF Division IV boys soccer action today, the fourth-seeded Central Spartans, who drew an opening-round bye, will host a D-IV quarterfinal match against fifth-seeded Gompers Prep Academy at Cal Jones Field at 5:00 p.m.
Also after drawing an opening round bye, today in CIF-SDS’s Division V boys playoffs are the Desert League champion and D-V fourth-seeded Holtville Vikings who host fifth-seeded El Cajon Valley.
Meanwhile, also playing today are the boys’ Division V Desert League’s seventh-seeded Vincent Memorial Catholic Scots who won their opening-round match on Tuesday over Tech High of Chula Vista 2-0 and who now take on the second-seeded Castle Park Trojans in Chula Vista.
Two other matches today in CIF Division V-AA, the Desert League’s seventh-seeded West Shores Wildcats, winner 6-2 over visiting tenth-seeded Victory Christian Academy in Salton City, Tuesday, will now be playing at second-seeded High Tech High North County today.
In other Division V-AA boys soccer action today, the ninth-seeded Borrego Springs Rams, who defeated eight-seed River Valley Academy 3-0 in Lakeside Tuesday, now travel to meet D V-AA’s top seed, Maranatha Christian in San Diego.
Opening up CIF Divisional girls’ soccer playoff quarterfinal play tomorrow, Saturday, February 17th will be the IVL champion Division III Central Spartans who will host eleventh-seeded Foothill Christian at 5:00 p.m. at Cal Jones Field.
After also drawing a Division IV bye, the D-IV top-seeded Calexico girls’ soccer team will be in quarter-final action on Saturday as the Bulldogs host the ninth-seeded Chula Vista Spartans at Ward Field at 5:00 p.
Saturday will also see three Southeastern Conference girls’ soccer teams in the CIF Division V eightteam playoffs, including Southwest Eagles who garnered the D-V’s third seed and will host the sixth-seeded Palo Verde Yellowjackets at Eagle Field.
Also in girls’ D-V CIF playoff action tomorrow will be the fifth-seeded Desert League champion Holtville Vikings who will travel to San Diego to take on Gompers Prep Academy.
In Division V-AA playoff bracket action on Saturday, fifth-seeded Vincent Memorial Catholic is at Liberty Charter, the sixth-seeded West Shores plays at High Tech High- Mesa, and seventh-seeded Borrego Springs is at River Valley Charter in Lakeside.