REGIONAL PREVIEWS:
LONG BEACH LANDS TOP SEED IN SOUTH; WEST VALLEY IS TOPS IN NORTH

NORTH- West Valley is the clear-cut favorite in the north to reach the State Tournament and defend its last two titles. The Vikings earned the top seed for this weekend’s Northern California Regional Playoffs, but the only two teams to push them this year reside in the Southern California. Diablo Valley claimed the Big 7 title, but four other members of that conference also reached the post-season. Diablo Valley is in good position to earn another trip to the State Tournament, especially as the host of the Northern California Regional Playoffs. The rest of the field is separated by a single goal, so the final spot in the north is up for grabs. Modesto beat Merced by one goal to reach the Big 7 title game, while Merced lost the third place game to Santa Rosa by one goal. And of course, Santa Rosa needed overtime to get past Delta, so expect a battle for the final slot between those four teams.

SOUTH- Long Beach crushed Cerritos, 14-4, to win the South Coast title and claim the top seed in the playoffs. The Vikings have beaten the second seeded Rustlers by a goal twice, but also lost to them once by five. Golden West needed a one-point game to get past Orange Coast to win the Orange Empire title and set up possible trip to Fresno. The Rustlers have won more State Titles than any other program, but they will have to win the SoCal title to keep from meeting West Valley on the first day of the State Tournament. Golden West is the only team to reach the post-season out of the Orange Empire, which is normally the regions strongest circuit. Grossmont won the Pacific Coast title to earn the third seed and a date with #6-seed LA Valley. The Griffins had a pretty comfortable time winning their title against this year’s toughest conference. Three of the five teams in the PCC reached the playoffs and only the seven-team South Coast Conference supplied more teams to the playoffs. LA Valley missed its chance for the WSC title in the final :20 of the title game and will be ready to take it out on the Griffins on Friday. Cerritos and Cuesta will hook up for the third time this year with the winner of the rubber match moving onto a Saturday’s semi-final. The Falcons and Coach Joe Abing will be trying to make their second straight trip to the State Tournament. Cuesta has not been to the State Tournament since 2000, but has won the last two WSC titles under second-year coach John Marsh. Chaffey and Palomar will playoff on Wednesday in Rancho Cucamonga for the right to face Golden West in the first round and Mt San Antonio and SD Mesa will match up in Walnut on Wednesday. The winner of the Mounties and Olympians will meet Long Beach on Friday.