CIF Norcal soccer 2024: Top storylines heading into regional playoffs

CIF Norcal Regional championships

Boys: Top storylines

Archbishop Mitty is playing its best soccer at the right time. After winning the Central Coast Section Division I title against St. Francis, Mitty was awarded the No. 2 seed and will play No. 7 McClatchy from Sacramento. The Monarchs are 10-0-3 in their last 13 matches and have not lost since Jan. 11. Mitty lost to Jesuit High School — this year’s No. 1 seed in Division I — last year in the Division II Norcals. If seeds hold, the two could see each other in this year’s Division I championship match. The trio Jaxson Bettencourt, Guiseppe Sigala and Isaac Castillo will look to lead the Monarchs to their first CIF Norcal championship in school history. … St. Francis was given the No. 4 seed in Division I and will have an interesting matchup with No. 5 Berkeley. The Yellow Jackets were the Cinderella team of the North Coast Section Division I bracket, beating Monte Vista and Dougherty Valley en route to the section title. St. Francis has been dominant all year, but will look to bounce back after losing its first match of the season to Mitty in the section title on Saturday. … Dougherty Valley earned the No. 1 seed in Division II. Tristan Casella’s 16 goals this season has led the Wildcats to being one of the hottest teams in Northern California. Dougherty Valley should be the favorites to make a run at the title in Division II. They have proven to be a top team in NCS, beating the likes of De La Salle, Clayton Valley and Granada in the past month … After winning the NCS Division II crown, Las Lomas was given the No. 6 seed in Norcal Division II. Las Lomas hasn’t lost since Dec. 22 and won the Diablo Athletic League title earlier this season. … After being upset in the NCS Division I semifinal by Maria Carrillo, Newark Memorial will get a shot to win CIF Norcal Division III title as they were awarded the No. 1 seed. The Cougars will be heavy favorites, having home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They will face No. 8 Everett Alvarez at home Tuesday. 

Girls: Top storylines

Kamryn Rosa and No. 1 seed St. Francis will look to capture its second consecutive CIF Division I Norcal championship. Rosa has been on a tear as of late, scoring eight goals in the Lancers’ last three matches including a midfield goal that helped lift St. Francis over Mitty in the CCS Division I championship match Saturday. St. Francis’ first round matchup will be against No. 8 Carondelet who the Lancers beat in the CIF Norcal championship last year. … Mitty was given the No. 4 seed and will play Davis Senior High School in its first round matchup. If St. Francis ends up winning its first round match and the Monarchs get a win over Davis, it will set up a CCS Division I championship rematch between the two rival schools in the second round of CIF Norcals. … Two East Bay Athletic League schools made it to the Norcal regionals. No. 3 San Ramon Valley, who won NCS the NCS Division I title over Carondelet with a late goal, will play host to visiting No. 6 Leigh. The Wolves will be led by Ella Beardslee who shot the winning goal Saturday. Amador Valley was given the No. 7 seed and will play at Del Oro on Tuesday. NCS Division II runner up Las Lomas was placed as the No. 6 seed in Norcal Division II. The Knights will travel to No. 3 Sequoia High School for its first round matchup.