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Prep2Prep

February 22, 2025

Ever since the Central Coast Section boys soccer playoff committee went with more of a subjective analysis of the 40 teams that make the playoff field, it has obviously been more difficult to accurately project the brackets. But a) it’s still fun to do so; b) based on the CCS point totals we still get a good sense of at least which teams will be in the field. In fact, Prep2Prep did accurately predict all 40 teams in the field.

Here is a look at the five CCS boys soccer brackets:

Division 1

Up until the very last set of projections, Prep2Prep had the eight teams in the order the committee would ultimately decide, but for the last set of projections we second-guessed ourselves into thinking the committee might move undefeated Menlo-Atherton higher. As it stands, we believe the committee did a very good job of seeding the top division.

All first-round games are on Saturday.

No. 8 Los Altos at No. 1 Bellarmine, 11 am

No. 5 Westmont at No. 4 Menlo-Atherton, 7 pm

No. 7 Archbishop Mitty at No. 2 Mountain View, 7:30 pm

No. 6 Serra at No. 3 Alvarez, 11 am

Predictions

Bellarmine 3, Los Altos 0

Menlo-Atherton 2, Westmont 1

Mountain View 2, Archbishop Mitty 0

Alvarez 2, Serra 2 (Alvarez wins on PKs)

Commentary

Best game: Menlo-Atherton vs. Westmont. Menlo-Atherton has gone through the entire season undefeated, which is a massive feat considering the landscape of high school boys soccer. Westmont rolled to an 8-0 start in the BVAL-Mount Hamilton, but a variety of factors including injuries and illness to key players led to a 2-3-1 finish (one of the losses was overturned by a forfeit against Mt. Pleasant). Still, at one point the Warriors were in consideration for the No. 3 seed, so this should be a tossup game.

Sleeper: Archbishop Mitty. It’s difficult to consider the defending Division 1 champ and perennial title contender Monarchs as anything but a favorite, but remember that the Monarchs weren’t even a lock to reach the Division 1 playoffs after a loss to Valley Christian left them at 8-3-5 overall, 4-3-3 in the WCAL. But Mitty went unbeaten in its last four, including a win over Bellarmine, and is always a threat to make some postseason noise. We just don’t like their draw.

Team to beat: Mountain View. Obviously, Bellarmine is seeded No. 1 – and deservedly so – but any team that allows just seven goals all season against top competition is our pick to hoist the trophy.

Division 2

Prep2Prep hit on five of the eight teams that were ultimately selected for Division 2 as Palo Alto was pushed much higher than we expected, among others.

All first-round games are on Saturday.

No. 8 Homestead at No. 1 Hillsdale, 3 pm

No. 5 Hollister at No. 4 Del Mar, 7 pm

No. 7 Carlmont at No. 2 St. Ignatius, 11 am

No. 6 Palo Alto at No. 3 Menlo, 1:30 pm

Predictions

Homestead 2, Hillsdale 1

Del Mar 1, Hollister 0

St. Ignatius 3, Carlmont 0

Palo Alto 1, Menlo 0

Commentary

Best game: Menlo vs. Palo Alto. Menlo dominated the WBAL-Foothill from start to finish, losing only to Sacred Heart Prep after the league title was secure. The Knights have always been a tough out come playoff time and are especially good at home, where they have gone undefeated all season. Meanwhile, Palo Alto comes in as the fourth-place team from the powerful SCVAL-De Anza and was undefeated in non-league play, including a win over Division 1 and BVAL-MH champ Westmont.

Sleeper: Del Mar. The Dons are not your typical “B” league team, having beaten “A” league Mt. Pleasant and tied Division 1 qualifier Los Altos in the preseason. Del Mar has gone 28-5-9 over the past two seasons, losing just once this season, against Leland.

Team to beat: St. Ignatius. The Wildcats come in as the fourth-place team from the WCAL. They have played the top 3 teams tough, picking up a draw against Bellarmine, two ties against Mitty and two one-goal losses against Serra.

Division 3

Prep2Prep hit on just four of the eight teams that were ultimately selected for Division 3. Carlmont wound up in Division 2 and Latino College Prep in Division 4.

All first-round games are on Saturday.

No. 8 Los Gatos at No. 1 Aptos, 1 pm

No. 5 Willow Glen at No. 4 Santa Clara, 5 pm

No. 7 Alisal at No. 2 Aragon, 3 pm

No. 6 Sacred Heart Prep at No. 3 Harbor, 7 pm

Predictions

Aptos 2, Los Gatos 0

Willow Glen 2, Santa Clara 2 (Willow Glen wins on PKs)

Aragon 2, Alisal 1

Harbor 2, Sacred Heart Prep 0

Commentary

Best game: Santa Clara vs Willow Glen. These teams met during the preseason and tied 2-2. They are separated by one spot in the Prep2Prep rankings. They both come from competitive “A” leagues in which they finished with nearly identical records when forfeits are disregarded. This is shaping up to be a first-round classic.

Sleeper: Willow Glen. If the Rams can get past Santa Clara, they are well equipped to make a nice run behind a strong defense and disciplined midfield.

Team to beat: Harbor. After losing its first game of the season, Harbor went on an 11-game unbeaten streak including a 3-0 victory over Sacred Heart Prep, its first-round opponent. The Pirates’ only losses after the opener have come against Aptos, a team they could meet again in the final.

Division 4

Prep2Prep hit on just two of the eight teams that were ultimately selected for Division 4. Some, like Crystal Springs Uplands, landed lower and others, like Alisal, Hollister and Los Gatos, landed higher. As it turned out, this has essentially turned into the PCAL Invitational, with BVAL-MH representatives Lincoln and Pioneer as special guests.

All first-round games are on Saturday.

No. 8 Pioneer at No. 1 Palma, 11 am

No. 5 Lincoln at No. 4 Greenfield, 5 pm

No. 7 King City at No. 2 Gonzales, 7 pm at Rabobank Stadium

No. 6 Salinas at No. 3 Monterey, 1 pm

Predictions

Palma 2, Pioneer 0

Lincoln 2, Greenfield 1

Gonzales 1, King City 1 (Gonzales wins on PKs)

Monterey 3, Salinas 1

Commentary

Best game: Greenfield vs Lincoln. Greenfield did Lincoln a favor by scheduling the game in the afternoon, as an 11 am start with that sort of travel, having to play on a grass field for likely the first time all season would have been a major challenge for the Lions.

Sleeper: Lincoln. This isn’t Lincoln’s strongest team in recent years, but the Lions are playoff tested and have won multiple CCS titles under coach Juan Torres.

Team to beat: Palma. The Chieftains dominated a solid PCAL-Mission league and will likely be close to home for the duration of the tournament. They may have to get through two BVAL-MH teams having to undergo a long drive and teams from the Bay Area have always dreaded having to make that trip south to take on the elements.

Division 5

Prep2Prep hit on six of the eight teams that were ultimately selected for Division 5.

All first-round games are on Saturday.

No. 8 Nueva at No. 1 Silver Creek, 5 pm

No. 5 Latino College Prep at No. 4 Milpitas, 5 pm

No. 7 James Lick at No. 2 Saratoga, 1 pm

No. 6 Crystal Springs Uplands at No. 3 El Camino, 5 pm

Predictions

Silver Creek 3, Nueva 0

Milpitas 2, Latino College Prep 0

James Lick 3, Saratoga 2

Crystal Springs Uplands 2, El Camino 2 (CSU wins on PKs)

Commentary

Best game: El Camino-Crystal Springs Uplands. This battle of upstarts from leagues that don’t generally meet each other should be fascinating. Crystal has lost just twice all season and played WBAL champ Menlo tough, losing 2-1 and tying 0-0. El Camino hasn’t played as difficult a schedule in the PAL-Lake, but the Colts dominated the league and have a tie against “A” league power Aragon to their preseason credit.

Sleeper: Milpitas. As one of the four “B” league teams in the field, the Trojans are poised to do some damage from the No. 4 seed. This is a team that has allowed just 15 goals all season and played SCVAL power Mountain View to a 0-0 tie in the preseason. A lack of attacking firepower might be Milpitas’ undoing, but the Trojans will be a tough out.

Team to beat: Milpitas. We like the way the bracket sets up for the Trojans if they can get past an undefeated and well-coached Latino College Prep side.