A forfeit by Grand Canyon High in the fourth place play-in match Saturday, Oct. 24, gives the Verde Valley School boys soccer team a spot in the 1A-3A state playoffs.
“We’re happy to go to the state playoffs and give our best,” Verde Valley Head Coach Andy Gill said.
Verde Valley lost 5-2 to Chino Valley High on Oct. 20 to end the regular season, handing the Coyotes their seventh consecutive loss.
The loss to Chino Valley meant Grand Canyon and Verde Valley had to meet in Flagstaff Saturday to play for fourth place in the 1A-3A West region, and a final spot in the state playoffs.
Verde Valley Athletic Director Matt Moran got the call on the forfeit and the Coyotes celebrated knowing they were going to state.
“It’s why we work hard. Going to the state playoffs is what our goal is every season,” Gill said.
The Coyotes wrapped up the regular season with a 3-8-1 overall record and were 2-6 in West region play.
With the forfeit, Verde Valley moves to 4-8-1 on the year and is scheduled to take the No. 4 slot out of the West region in the state playoffs. The playoffs are set to begin Friday, Oct. 30.
Verde Valley will play Blue Ridge High, the No. 1 seed out of the 1A-3A East region, on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Tempe Sports Complex on field seven.
The first two rounds of the state playoffs will be at Tempe Sports Complex, with the semifinals and finals played at Campo Verde High in Gilbert.
The quarterfinals are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31, with the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 6, and the state finals on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Other exciting matchups in the state boys soccer tournament include Camp Verde High [West No. 1] versus Holbrook High [East No. 4], St. Gregory High [Metro No. 2] versus Benson High [South No. 3] and Snowflake High [East No. 2] against Chino Valley [West No. 3].
If Verde Valley pulls the upset card and beats Blue Ridge, the Coyotes would play the winner of the St. Gregory-Benson match Saturday at 2 p.m. on field six.
Brian Bergner Jr. can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 131, or e-mail bbergner@larsonnewspapers.com
