MONROE — The WIAA recently released its playoff brackets ahead of regional quarterfinals on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Three local teams received byes and will not play until regional semifinals on Thursday, Oct. 24 — 2-seed Brodhead, 3-seed Pecatonica and 3-seed Belleville.
In Division 2, Monroe (3-17, 1-7 Rock Valley-Valley) received an 11-seed and will travel to 6-seed Reedsburg (17-12-1, 2-5 Badger Small). They have just one common opponent in Mount Horeb. The Cheesemakers fell 2-0 to the Vikings in their home tournament, and the Beavers lost 3-1 in a conference match. The winner would face 3-seed West Salem, who is ranked No. 10 in WisSports.net (WSN) Coaches Poll.
In Division 3, Brodhead (12-13, 7-3 Rock Valley-Rock) received a 2-seed and a first-round bye. The Cardinals will host the winner of 10-seed Clinton (2-13, 0-10 Rock Valley-Rock) and 7-seed Shoreland Lutheran (9-20, 2-5 Metro Classic). Brodhead swept Clinton twice in league play, while Brodhead and Shoreland Lutheran both lost to Janesville Craig 2-1 in invites.
Third-seeded Belleville (20-10, 7-2 Capitol South) also received a bye. The Wildcats will host the winner of 11-seed Milwaukee Audubon (0-4, 0-1 Milwaukee City-V) and 6-seed Big Foot (16-12, 5-5 Rock Valley-Rock). Belleville and Audubon don’t share any common opponents, but both Belleville and Big Foot swept Evansville.
If Brodhead and Belleville win their regional semifinal games, the two would meet in a regional final at Brodhead on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Darlington (12-12, 9-2 SWAL) received an 8-seed and will host 9-seed Mauston (12-9, 7-2 South Central). The two teams do not share a common opponent. Worth noting, is that the Redbirds are in a conference with Cuba City, who is ranked No. 2 per the WSN Coaches Poll. The South Central has no ranked members. The winner advances to play 1-seed Aquinas (22-3, 10-1 Mississippi Valley), who is ranked No. 3 per the WSN Coaches Poll.
New Glarus (5-15, 4-5 Capitol South) received a 9-seed and will travel to 8-seed Brookfield Academy (7-5, 3-3 Midwest Classic). The two teams do not share a common opponent. The winner runs into 1-seed Abundant Life-St. Ambrose (32-6, 6-0) winners of the Trailways South Conference.
In Division 5, Pecatonica (11-5, 8-3 Six Rivers East) earned a 3-seed and first-round bye. The Vikings will host the winner of 6-seed Argyle (9-7, 7-4 Six Rivers East) and 11-seed Benton (3-17, 0-10 Six Rivers West). Pecatonica has beaten both Benton and Argyle.
As crossover teams, Argyle and Benton have multiple common opponents. Most notably, the Orioles had a season-opening loss to Southwestern, 2-1, while the Zephyrs defeated Southwestern 2-1 in their own tournament on Sept. 28.
Monticello (11-7, 8-3 Six Rivers East) received a 5-seed and will host conference opponent 12-seed Juda (0-13, 0-11). The Panthers are searching for their first match win since Aug. 30, 2022. The Ponies, on the other hand, are peaking going into playoffs, having won their last five matches. The winner will play 4-seed Shullsburg (10-11, 8-3 Six Rivers West).
Albany (3-14, 3-9 Six Rivers East), received an 8-seed and will also face a conference opponent in 9-seed Black Hawk (2-13, 2-9). The two teams split during the regular season, with the Comets winning the most recent match, 3-0, on Oct. 8. The winner will face 1-seed Barneveld (17-7, 11-0), undefeated conference champions of the Six Rivers East. The Eagles have been consistently recognized in the WSN Coaches Poll, finally cracking the top 10 in this week’s poll.
