New Boston Huron’s girls soccer team made a run to the Division 2 state finals last spring.
The boys, ranked No. 3 in Division 2, would like to keep pace.
The Chiefs are the Monroe County Region’s only state-ranked team heading into the state tournaments, which begin Wednesday, Oct. 8 and Thursday, Oct. 9.
Region teams will play in five districts. Previews of each of those tournaments follow.
DIVISION 1 AT ANN ARBOR HURON
Bedford and Monroe will see many of their Southeastern Conference Red opponents in this district.
Monroe opens at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Ann Arbor Pioneer while Bedford travels to Saline for a 7 p.m. contest the same night.
“We had two really close games against Saline,” said Bedford coach Brendan Wyatt, whose team was nipped 4-2 by the Hornets at home and fell 2-1 on the road during the regular season. “I’ve been looking forward to this District matchup.”
The road gets tougher if the Mules win. They would move into the semifinals at 5 p.m. Oct. 14 against Ann Arbor Huron, which is the No. 1 seed and ranked No. 2 in the state.
No matter what happens, the Mules (10-8-1) will finish with a winning record in Wyatt’s first year as head coach.
“It’s the first time in a little while,” Wyatt said. “I am proud of these boys.”
If Monroe wins its quarterfinal contest, it would play Belleville or Ann Arbor Skyline in the second half of a semifinal doubleheader on Oct. 14.
Monroe (4-12-1) is rebuilding after losing 9 seniors from last year to graduation.
“Our kids have given as good as they could all year,” Monroe coach Ian Cooke said.
The final is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 16.
DIVISION 2 AT ADRIAN
Huron carries a 14-2-1 and a 16-game unbeaten streak into state-tournament play.
The Chief got a bye into the semifinals. They will not play until the Oct. 14 semifinals where they will play either Adrian or Tecumseh at 5 p.m.
“Consistency and work ethic is this team’s reason for success,” Huron coach Matt Lividini said. “Older team with depth and an amazing backline, midfield and forward line. And let’s not forget one of the top keepers in the goal.”
“Huron is the favorite of our District,” Jefferson-Mason coach Bobby Smith said. “Top to bottom they’re extremely talented.”
The action begins at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday with Ypsilanti Lincoln visiting Airport. Jefferson-Erie Mason will travel to Ypsilanti for a quarterfinal game at 5 p.m. Oct. 9.
The winner of that game will play in the semifinals on Oct. 14 against the Airport-Lincoln survivor.
“We challenged ourselves this fall by playing a tough schedule which helped us to prepare for this moment, leaning on our large senior class,” Airport coach Nick Saurez said of his 8-9-3 team. “Although injuries and lack of depth kept us from bridging the gap with the top three in the Huron League, we’re battle tested and confident.”
The finals will be played at 6 p.m. Oct. 16.
Jefferson-Mason, which was winless last season, carries a 3-12-1 record.
“Last season we gave up an astounding 164 goals,” Smith said. “This season, we cut that number down drastically, giving up 66 goals Our identity this season is defense.”
DIVISION 2 AT GIBRALTAR CARLSON
Gibraltar Carlson opens the district it is hosting against Dearborn Heights Annapolis at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
A win there would send the Marauders into the semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 13 against Melvindale.
The other side of the bracket is made up of River Rouge, Detroit Cesar Chavez, Riverview at Trenton.
The final is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 15.
DIVISION 3 AT FLAT ROCK
Grosse Ile, ranked No. 6 in the state, is the district favorite, but Milan tied the Red Devils 2-2 when the teams met on Sept. 25.
“I like how the team has been playing the last couple of the games,” Milan coach Phil Hayes said of his 8-4-4 squad. “Clicking really well together. They have showed a lot of growth.”
Milan opens at 7 p.m. Wednesday against Taylor Prep.
On Thursday, Ida will host Summit Academy at 5:30 p.m. and Flat Rock visits Dundee at 7.
Ida, which tied Clinton for the Lenawee County Athletic Association title, heads into the state tournament with an 11-7-1 record.
“We should have a good chance in our first game,” Ida coach Tim Allen said. “We would have to play well to beat Milan and Grosse Ile. We’ll go out and do our best.”
Flat Rock stands at 8-9.
“There are a lot of good teams in the district,” Flat Rock coach Sean Sturgeon said. “We will look to make the most of the opportunities we get, and play some good defense. The team has shown a lot of growth since the beginning of the year.”
The semifinals on Oct. 14 pit the Flat Rock-Dundee winner against Grosse Ile at 5:30 p.m. followed by the winners of the Milan-Taylor Prep and Ida-Summit Academy clashing.
The final will be played at 7 p.m. Oct. 16.
DIVISION 4 AT LENAWEE CHRISTIAN
St. Mary Catholic Central opens state-tournament play at 5 p.m. Thursday at Ypsilanti Arbor Prep.
A win there would send the Falcons into the semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 14 against No. 1 seed Clinton.
“They sit at 16-1-1 and have scored 80-plus goals this season,” SMCC coach Jon Pederson said of Clinton. “We need to be sound defensively, move without the ball and be able to string passes together.”
Mnachester, Lenawee Christian and Blissfield are on the other side of the bracket.
The district champion will be decided at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 16.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County Region soccer teams set to begin state tournaments
Reporting by Niles Kruger, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
