The CIF Southern California Regional soccer playoffs saw thrilling matchups on Thursday, setting the stage for Saturday’s regional finals and, the CIF State Championships on March 13-14 in Sacramento. Several Orange County teams advanced, while others saw their seasons come to a close in hard-fought contests. The regional winners will advance to compete against their Northern California counterparts for state titles.
Mater Dei and Santa Margarita emerged victorious in the girls’ Division I semifinals, guaranteeing an all-Monarchs final. In the boys’ bracket, Mater Dei also secured a spot in the championship game, while Los Alamitos and University will compete for regional titles in Divisions III and IV, respectively. These games represent the culmination of a demanding playoff run for these schools and a chance to represent Southern California on the state’s biggest stage.
Boys Soccer Regional Finals Set
Mater Dei advanced to the Division I final with a 2-1 victory over El Camino Real. They will face Del Norte, who prevailed over Orange Lutheran 0-0, winning 4-1 in a penalty shootout. The match will be held at El Modena High School. Los Alamitos earned their place in the Division III final with a decisive 2-0 win against Mt. Carmel, and will travel to Bishop Amat for the championship game. A forfeit awarded University the Division IV spot, and they will host Granite Hills, who defeated Santa Ana Valley 2-1.
Girls Soccer: All-Monarchs Final in Division I
Santa Margarita dominated Cleveland with a 3-0 victory in the Division I semifinals, while Mater Dei defeated Oaks Christian 2-0. This sets up an exciting all-Orange County final between the two powerhouse programs. The Division I final will be played at Tesoro High School at 3 p.m. On Saturday. Coachella Valley advanced in Division IV after defeating Segerstrom 4-1.
The intensity of the regional semifinals was evident across all divisions. Del Norte’s penalty shootout victory over Orange Lutheran was a particularly dramatic finish, highlighting the unpredictable nature of playoff soccer. Mater Dei’s consistent performance in both the boys’ and girls’ brackets demonstrates the strength of their soccer programs.
Saturday’s regional finals promise to be competitive contests, with each team vying for a chance to represent Southern California in the CIF State Championships. The stakes are high as these athletes compete for the ultimate prize in high school soccer.
The CIF State Championships, scheduled for March 13-14 in Sacramento, will pit the Southern California Regional champions against their Northern California counterparts. These games will determine the official CIF State champions for each division.
Stay tuned for updates on Saturday’s regional finals and the upcoming CIF State Championships. Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
