The boys soccer playoffs are a week away, and teams across the state are jockeying for positioning. Some of the regions have been decided, but many spots are up for grabs in the last week of the regular season.
The best teams across the state have made a charge to the top of the polls and could threaten with a deep playoff runs. In the eight classifications, only one defending-champion, Meadowcreek in Class AAAAAAA, is not in the playoff picture.
Here's what to expect:
Class AAAAAAA
-- Favorites for a state title run: No. 1 Walton made it to the semifinals last season before losing to state runner-up Pebblebrook, 3-1. This season, Walton is 15-1-1 with a loss to Collins Hill on March 16 and a tie with Chattahoochee on Feb. 9. Since the loss on March 16, Walton has won seven straight heading into its final regular-season game against Roswell on April 20.
-- No. 2 Norcross: Last year, Norcross missed the playoffs. This season, it is 12-1-1 and ranked No. 2 as it moves toward a final regular-season game against Duluth on Friday. Its loss came on March 27 against Lakeside, 2-1. The tie was to Centennial (1-1) on Feb. 23
-- Where's the defending champion: Unranked Meadowcreek has lost seven games this season with three ties.
Class AAAAAA
-- Favorites for a state title run: Top-ranked Dalton is 14-2-1, but only one loss was to a school from Georgia – Northwest Whitfield on March 9 (3-2). The other dropped game was to Fort Payne, Ala., on Feb. 20 (1-0). Since the 1-1 tie to the Baylor School on April 3, Dalton has victories against Boyd-Buchanan, Tenn., and Allatoona (4-3, 4-2). Dalton will face Southeast Whitfield on April 20.
-- No. 3 Chattahoochee: The defending state champions are ranked No. 3 and are coming off a loss to No. 2 Cambridge on April 17 (3-1). Chattahoochee has lost three of its last five games, but each loss came to a quality opponent, and its victories between the losses included a 4-0 shutout against Johns Creek and a 1-0 victory against Dunwoody.
-- Where's the defending champion? See above.
Class AAAAA
-- Favorites for a state title run: Top-ranked Decatur might not hold the best record in the class, but the quality of its opponents protects its No. 1 ranking. Decatur is 13-1-2 and is looking for a better rhythm after ties in two of its last three games -- Stone Mountain (0-0 on April 12) and Blessed Trinity (1-1) on April 17.
-- No. 2 Cross Keys: This team has been flawless since opening its season with a 3-1 loss to Dalton and a 1-1 tie with Berkmar. Since the tie on Feb 13, Cross Keys has reeled off 15 consecutive victories with eight shutouts.
-- Where's the defending champion: McIntosh is another team that cannot be counted out. The Chiefs are ranked fifth in the class with a 13-4-0 record. Its 3-0 loss against cross-town rival Starr's Mill on April 13 hurt, but McIntosh rebounded with a 1-0 victory against Veterans on April 17.
Class AAAA
-- Favorites for a state title run: Top-ranked Marist opened its season with seven consecutive victories before losing to Westminster on Feb 23 (2-0). Three days later, Marist tied Grady (0-0). More recently, Marist lost to Starr's Mill (1-0), tied Wesleyan (3-3) and lost to No. 2 Woodward Academy (2-1) before getting back on track against Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit (7-2) and St. Pius X (3-1).
-- No. 2 Woodward Academy: Woodward opened its season with seven consecutive victories before a tie and a loss in back-to-back games on March 1 and March 6 to Grady (0-0) and Eastside (3-2), respectively. More recently, Woodward lost 2-1 to Druid Hills on April 13. It will face Whitewater Wednesday, Decatur Firday and Baldwin on April 26.
-- Where's the defending champion: No. 5 Southeast Whitfield defeated Druid Hills 3-2 to earn the state title last season. Southeast Whitfield is 10-4-2, but is riding a four-game winning streak which began March 24 with a 1-0 victory against Whitefield Academy. It will face Dalton on April 20.
Class AAA
-- Favorites for a state title run: Top-ranked Westminster is the defending champion and clear favorite for another title. The Wildcats are 16-0-1, a full four games ahead of the nearest competition as the teams ranked No. 2-5 – North Murray, Windsor Forest, East Hall and Savannah Arts -- each have 12 victories. Following a 0-0 tie to Norman North on April 6, Westminster has won with three shutouts against Davidson, Pace and Lovett. The Wildcats have the Baylor School on April 21.
-- No. 2 North Murray: North Murray advanced to the quarterfinals last season before being eliminated by Pace Academy, 1-0. This year, North Murray is 12-0-2 and is riding a nine-game winning streak with six shutouts, including the last three against Murray County (2-0 ), Adairsville (8-0) and Ringgold (10-0).
-- Where's the defending champion: See above.
Class AA
-- Favorites for a state title run: Top-ranked Putnam County is riding an eight-game winning streak. The run includes victories against Jackson (12-2), Banks County (6-0) and Rabun County (2-1). Last year, Putnam advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to runner-up Coosa, 3-1.
-- Where's the defending champion: Benedictine is chasing another title after defeating Coosa 4-1 in the championship game last season. This year, the Cadets are ranked second in the class with a 12-4-1 record. The beginning of the season was tough, as the Cadets dropped four of its first five matches before a stretch of 10 consecutive victories. Its 8-0 victory against Vidalia on April 13 got it back on track after a tie with Glynn Academy on April 11.
Class A
-- Favorites for a state title run: Atlanta International has staked its claim to the No. 1 spot in the class after compiling an eight-game winning streak heading into its match against Chamblee on April 18. Last season, Atlanta International fell to eventual state-champion Whitefield Academy in the quarterfinals, (1-0).
-- Where's the defending champion: Third-ranked Whitefield Academy defeated Walker 2-1 last season in the state title match. This year, Whitefield has struggled through the past eight games, dropping four of them. But it is coming off a victory 3-0 victory in the state title rematch against Walker on Tuesday. Whitefield will face Pinecrest Academy on Saturday.
Boys soccer playoff schedule
(dates subject to change)
First Round
-- April 25 – Classes AAAAAAA, AAAAAA, AAAAA
-- April 27 – Classes AAAA, AAA, AA, A
Second Round
-- May 2: All classes
Quarterfinals
-- May 5: All classes
Semifinals
-- May 8: All classes
Finals
-- May 11-12: All classes
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