Perfect Bulldogs, Hawks are No. 1 soccer seeds

State tournaments begin next week with first-round games

Volcano Vista’s girls and Albuquerque High’s undefeated boys were awarded No. 1 seeds Sunday for the upcoming Class 5A state soccer tournaments.

First-round games in 5A, 4A and 1A-3A are Friday and Saturday.

First-round matchups can be viewed on page B4.

BOYS: The Bulldogs (18-0) have been incredibly dominant. Only three of their 18 victories were by a single goal, including Saturday’s 2-1 result against Sandia.

In that part of the bracket is No. 9 Las Cruces visiting No. 8 La Cueva, the District 2 champion, in the opening round. The Bears just had eight of their players suspended for the season on Friday.

Mayfield, Atrisco Heritage and defending state champion Cleveland were seeded 2-4. The Storm won its last three to get into second place in District 1 behind Atrisco Heritage.

No. 10 Eldorado will visit No. 7 Rio Rancho in one of the first-round games.

Albuquerque Academy has the top slot in Class 4A, with Los Alamos, St. Pius and Los Lunas also having first-round byes. Valley and Highland were the final two teams into the 12-team field.

Bosque School has the No. 1 seed in 1A-3A. New Mexico Military Institute has the No. 2 position, followed by with Sandia Prep and Monte del Sol Charter.

GIRLS: The Hawks (16-2) went unbeaten through always-rugged District 1.

“I’m very excited, and I think it’s well deserved,” Hawks coach Samantha Lucero said. “We will have a little bit of time to rest, (heal up) some injuries, and having that opportunity is huge for us.”

It’s an all-Albuquerque top four, with Cibola, La Cueva and Albuquerque High filling slots 2-4.

The Cougars finished a narrow second to Volcano Vista, losing a pair of 1-0 games in district play.

La Cueva is the District 2 champion, AHS the District 5 champ.

St. Pius has the No. 1 seed in Class 4A, followed by Hope Christian, Albuquerque Academy and Aztec.

Although Academy’s girls won their district, with Hope second, the NMAA had the flexibility to seed the Huskies higher based on the list of criteria points. Winning the district counts only as a single criteria point in favor of the Chargers, who lost twice to the Huskies in the regular season, including once in a tournament.

Sandia Prep will begin its title defense as a No. 1 seed in Class 1A-3A. The Sundevils will be chased by the likes of second-seeded Socorro, third-seeded St. Michael’s and No. 4 Bosque School.