The Watsonville boys’ soccer team won’t host the semifinal round of the CIF NorCal Division II tournament, but a stunner in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round could bring the regional championship game to Emmett M. Geiser Field.
The No. 6-seeded Wildcatz topped No. 3 Bella Vista, 1-0, on Ricardo Alvarado’s game-winning goal in overtime at Casa Roble High to advance to the semifinal round.
Watsonville (15-3-5) will travel to No. 2 Richmond, a 1-0 winner over No. 7 Soledad, on Thursday at 6 p.m.
A shocker on the other end of the NorCal D-II bracket dwarfed the Wildcatz’s upset.
No. 8 Prospect, ranked 79th in the state by MaxPreps, toppled top-seeded Galt, ranked 18th in the state, 3-2 to advance to Thursday’s semifinals.
Galt (22-2-1) had won 14 straight games before Tuesday’s loss to the Panthers (17-6-1), the Central Coast Section Division I champions.
Prospect’s win was good news for Watsonville, as the Wildcatz could host Saturday’s regional championship game if both CCS members win in the semifinals.
Prospect will travel to No. 4 Marin Academy, a 4-2 winner over Livingston in the quarterfinals, on Thursday at 4 p.m.
The complete CIF NorCal D-II bracket can be found here: https://t.maxpreps.com/2Su92EP
