Expect new matchups in enrollment-based prep soccer playoffs

It's a new era for the Sac-Joaquin Section boys soccer playoffs, which start today.

The section this season has divided teams into divisions by enrollment rather than league affiliation, as in the past.

"We'll be seeing matchups in soccer that we've never seen before," section director of communications Will DeBoard said.

So longtime Division II schools Granite Bay, Woodcreek and Rocklin from the Sierra Foothill League and McClatchy from the Metro Conference find themselves in Division I, joining perennial powers Davis and Jesuit.

Since 1997, Jesuit has won seven section banners and Davis six, including last season's 5-3 penalty-kick win over the Marauders.

Top-seeded Jesuit (23-1-1), led by California career coaching wins leader Paul Rose, hosts Vallejo, and Napa (9-9-3) visits sixth-seeded Davis (12-4-5) today. Davis is coached by Alex Park, who replaced longtime Blue Devils coach Ashley Yudin before the season started.

Granite Bay (17-3-1) has played in four of the past six D-II title games, winning three. The second-seeded Grizzlies host Monterey Trail (10-10) today.

Metro Conference champion McClatchy (16-0-2) enters the 16-team D-I tournament as one of the section's few undefeated teams. The third-seeded Lions, coached by Vaughn Boyce, have allowed only three goals. They host Chavez of Stockton (8-5-2) today.

Championship matches in Divisions I through VII will be held Nov. 10 at Cosumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove and Lincoln in Stockton.

Here are the pairings for today's matches in Divisions I-III. All divisions will play Thursday. Matches start at 3 p.m. unless noted.

• Division I – Vallejo at Jesuit, Kennedy at Woodcreek, Merced at Modesto (5 p.m. at Downey High), Edison-Stockton at Armijo of Fairfield, Chavez at McClatchy, Napa at Davis, Franklin of Stockton at West-Tracy, Monterey Trail at Granite Bay.

• Division II – Burbank at Bella Vista, Del Oro at Lodi (7 p.m. at the Grape Bowl), Whitney at Ponderosa (5 p.m.), Atwater at McNair of Stockton, Del Campo at Grant, Folsom at Vintage of Napa, Downey at Rio Linda, Johansen of Modesto at Turlock.

• Division III (out-bracket) – Pioneer at Vanden, Oakdale at Central Valley of Ceres, El Camino at River Valley, Yuba City at Cosumnes Oaks.

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