A record number of boys and girls soccer teams will compete in the 29th annual IHSAA soccer state tournaments.
A total of 305 boys teams and 273 girls teams learned their opening-round sectional opponents Sunday night during the IHSAA’s state tournament draw. The previous record for participants was 301 for the boys in 2017 and 2019, and 272 girls teams in 2019.
Both tournaments mirror each other beginning with 16 sectionals in each of three classes running Oct. 3-8.
Regional semifinals will be played Oct. 12-13 with regional championships on Oct. 15.
Semistate champions will be determined on Oct. 22 at four sites with the winners advancing to the state championship matches Oct. 28-29 at Michael Carroll Stadium at IUPUI in Indianapolis.
This is the second year that a mid-week regional semifinal match will be played on the home field of one of the sectional winners. This year, the winners of the even-numbered sectionals will host a regional semifinal match on Wednesday (boys) and Thursday (girls) with all championship matches played at a pre-determined site on Saturday.
Boys Tournament
Greencastle Sectional
Greencastle, ranked No. 15 in the state coaches poll, will face Owen Valley in the second scheduled match at Class 2A, Sectional 29.
In the opener, Brown County will take on West Vigo with the winner getting the Greencastle-Owen Valley winner in the semifinal round.
The other quarterfinal matchups are Indian Creek vs. Northview and South Vermillion vs. Edgewood.
The Greencastle Sectional champion will travel to the Providence Sectional champion for the regional semifinal match.
Washington is the host site for the regional championship match.
Bethesda Christian Sectional
North Putnam, ranked 19th in the state coaches poll, will make its postseason debut against the host Patriots in Class A, Sectional 41. The winner advances to the championship match of the five-team sectional.
In the quarterfinal opener, No. 13-ranked Covenant Christian faces Riverside with the winner taking on No. 10 Providence Cristo Rey in the semifinals.
The Bethesda Christian Sectional champion will face the Southwestern Sectional champion in the regional semifinal round.
Knightstown is the host site for the regional championship match.
Girls Tournament
Cascade Sectional
North Putnam drew the host Cadets in the Class A, Sectional 41 opener.
The winner will take on the winner of the South Vermillion-Southmont quarterfinal match in the semifinals.
The other semifinal matchup features Greencastle against Bethesda Christian.
The Cascade Sectional champion plays at the Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter Sectional champion in the regional semifinal round.
Knightstown is the host site for the regional championship match.
