By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — At least one home game awaits Watauga men’s soccer in the NCHSAA 4A West playoffs, it was revealed with the brackets released on Nov. 7. The Pioneers will host Palisades (Charlotte), with kickoff slated for 2 p.m. in Jack Groce Stadium.
As the No. 4 seed, the Pioneers have a dangerous first round pairing vs. the No. 29-seed Pumas, which completed the regular season 12-8 overall, 6-6 and No. 4 in the highly competitive South Meck 4A Conference.
In addition to Palisades, other South Meck 4A members in the 4A West bracket include No. 2-seeded Myers Park (16-0-2 overall, 11-0-1 in conference), No. 12 seed Ardrey Kell (16-2-5, 9-1-2), and No. 21 South Mecklenburg (14-6-4, 7-4-1).
As the No. 2 seed, Myers Park is in the lower half of the bracket and will face off against No. 31 West Cabarrus in Round 1. By luck of the draw and seedings, Ardrey Kell and South Mecklenburg will play each other in Round 1 with the winner potentially facing the winner of Watauga vs. Palisades in Round 3, depending on who advances.
West Foryth (20-1-2 overall, 12-1-1 in Central Piedmont 4A Conference) was awarded the No. 1 seed in the 4A West bracket, and will face Watauga’s latest vanquished foe, South Caldwell, which made the playoffs as the No. 32 seed. Of interest: West Forsyth and Watauga played early in the season, on Aug. 19, and battled to a 3-3 tie.
All three Northwestern Conference 4A schools made the 4A West bracket, with South Caldwell at No. 32 and Alexander Central at No. 26.
Full Round 1 pairings for the 4A West bracket:
- No. 32 South Caldwell @ No. 1 West Forsyth
- No. 17 Charlotte Catholic @ No. 16 East Forsyth
- No. 25 R J Reynolds @ No. 8 Asheville
- No. 24 Hough @ No. 9 Hopewell
- No. 28 Glenn @ No. 5 Northwest Guilford
- No. 21 South Mecklenburg @ No. 12 Ardrey Kell
- No. 20 Mount Tabor @ No. 13 Ragsdale
- No. 29 Palisades @ No. 4 Watauga
- No. 30 A.L. Brown @ No. 3 Lake Norman
- No. 19 Porter Ridge @ No. 14 Grimsley
- No. 27 Parkland @ No. 6 Marvin Ridge
- No. 22 Providence @ No. 11 Cox Mill
- No. 26 Alexander Central @ No. 7 Garinger
- No. 23 Mooresville @ No. 10 Reagan
- No. 18 Weddington @ No. 15 Hickory Ridge
- No. 31 West Cabarrus @ No. 2 Myers Park
OTHER PAIRINGS OF INTEREST
- 3A West – No. 4 Hibriten vs. No. 29 Jesse C. Carson
- 3A West – No. 3 South Point vs. No. 30 Ashe County
- 3A West – No. 11 Hickory vs. No. 22 West Henderson
- 3A West – No. 2 A. C. Reynolds vs. No. 31 Ben L. Smith
- 2A West – No. 4 West Caldwell vs. No. 29 West Wilkes
- 1A West – No. 3 Avery County vs. No. 30 Draughn
