Marvin Ridge boys soccer will open the NCHSAA 7A West playoffs as the No. 1 seed, earning a first-round bye after a 17-2 regular season.
The Mavericks finished 11-1 in conference play, according to MaxPreps. They closed the schedule on a seven-game winning streak, capped by a 6-0 shutout of Sun Valley on Wednesday, Oct. 28, in Waxhaw. It was senior night.
C. McKee led the attack against the Spartans with three goals and one assist. C. Perkins added a goal and two assists. The Mavericks outscored opponents 68-15 across 19 games this season.
The NCHSAA released the final playoff brackets on Thursday, Oct. 29, the Charlotte Observer reported. The brackets had been expected earlier that day but were delayed by a student eligibility hearing with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
As the No. 1 seed, Marvin Ridge skips the first round on Monday, Nov. 2. The Mavericks play a second-round game on Thursday, Nov. 5, against an opponent to be determined by first-round results. Subsequent rounds are set for Nov. 9, Nov. 12 and Nov. 17, with the state finals scheduled for Nov. 19-21 at Durham County Memorial Stadium.
The 7A West bracket is loaded with area teams. Weddington earned the No. 7 seed and a first-round bye. Porter Ridge is the No. 6 seed, also with a bye. Cuthbertson, seeded No. 12, hosts No. 21 North Mecklenburg in the first round.
Lake Norman is the No. 2 seed in the West bracket. Other first-round bye recipients include No. 3 Davie County, No. 4 Hickory Ridge, No. 5 Grimsley and No. 8 West Cabarrus, according to the Citizen-Times.
Marvin Ridge went 8-0 at home this season. The Mavericks' only two losses came on the road: a 2-1 result at Providence on Sept. 3 and a 1-0 defeat at Charlotte Catholic on Sept. 30.
Marvin Ridge's second-round opponent on Nov. 5 will come from the winner of No. 16 East Forsyth and No. 17 Southwest Guilford.
