South Bend links, analysis as field is set

The IHSAA released the boys and girls soccer sectionals Sunday evening ahead of the postseason tournament, which begins Monday, Oct. 7 across the state.

There are several storylines to follow from the South Bend region, including the top two ranked teams in the Class 2A girls poll being in the same section. Here are three key takeaways from Sunday’s draw, with all South Bend area brackets at the bottom of the story.

TO VOTE: Week 6 South Bend Tribune High School Football Player of the Week

Saint Joseph, Mary girls on either side of the tie

South Bend Saint Joseph senior Paige Goben kicks the ball down the field during a game against Fort Wayne Carroll during the Saint Joseph girls soccer invitational on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, at Newton Park in Lakeville.

One of the fears of a blind tie like this is that two elite teams in a section will have to face each other in the first round. Luckily, that didn’t happen here, as No. 1 South Bend Saint Joseph (10-4) and No. 2 Mishawaka Marian (10-3-2) are on opposite sides of the five-team Sectional 18 girls soccer draw. The top-ranked Huskies will need to win three games, compared to two for the host Knights, as Saint Joseph will play a strong Jimtown team (12-2-1) in the lone opening round next Tuesday, Oct. 8.

If the rankings hold, it should be a showdown between two bitter rivals at the ABRO Stadium on October 12.

Northridge, Concord boys teams get a slight advantage

Adams sophomore Asim Elhag (9) and Northridge senior Bryce Black are both set to play ball during a boys soccer game on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, at School Field in South Bend.

There really is no easy path in the boys soccer section hosted by Penn, but at least two Elkhart County teams in Northridge and Concord have byes. The Raiders (8-4-2) and the 15th Minutemen (10-2-2) will face each other in the semifinals, pitting Penn (8-4-2), No. 13 Goshen (11-3-1 ) remains. , Elkhart (8-4-1) and Mishawaka (0-11) in the top half of the bracket.

More: South Bend Adams and Northridge boys soccer are learning lessons from Wednesday’s game

An area Class 1A girls section is loaded

In terms of the number of ranked teams from the South Bend area, nothing tops the girls Class 1A, Sectional 35 field. Four teams in the top 13 of the latest 1A coaches poll: No. 5 Westview, No. 8 South Bend Trinity, No. 10 Elkhart Christian Academy and No. 13 Bremen. ECA and Trinity will face off in a quarterfinal match, while Bremen also doesn’t have an easy first-round opponent in a 12-2 Lakewood Park Christian team. The quality of football will be high all week at Westview.

BOYS SOCCER 2024 IHSAA SECTIONAL DRAWING

Complete brackets can be found online at ihsaa.org. Records and rankings as of September 29.

Class 3A, Section 3 in Plymouth

Game 1: Mishawaka Marian (5-7-1) vs. Michigan City (2-11), Monday, October 7, 6 p.m
Game 2: SB Adams (8-6) vs. SB Washington (1-6), Tuesday, October 8, 5:30 PM
Game 3: Plymouth (8-6) vs. SB Riley (5-5-1), Tuesday, October 8, 7:30 PM
Game 4: LaPorte (0-10-4) vs. winner of Game 1, Wednesday, October 9, 5:30 PM
Game 5: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, Wednesday October 9, 7:30 PM
Championship: Saturday, October 12, 7 p.m

Class 3A, Section 4 at Penn

Game 1: Penn (8-4-2) vs. No. 13 Goshen (11-3-1), Monday, Oct. 7, 5 p.m.
Game 2: Elkhart (8-4-1) vs. Mishawaka (0-11), Monday, October 7, 7 p.m
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, Wednesday, October 9, 5:00 PM
Game 4: no. 15 Concord (10-2-2), Northridge (8-4-2), Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m.
Championship: Saturday, October 12, 7 p.m

Class 2A, Section 18 at Culver Academy

Game 1: New Prairie (7-7-1) vs. Culver Academy (3-6-2), Monday, Oct. 7, 6 p.m.
Game 2: Bremen (11-1-2) vs. Wawasee (2-11-1), Tuesday, October 8, 5 p.m
Game 3: John Glenn (6-5-3) vs. NorthWood (8-7), Tuesday, October 8, 7 p.m
Game 4: No. 8 SB Saint Joseph (8-3-3) vs. Game 1 winner, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 5 p.m
Game 5: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, Wednesday, October 9, 7:00 PM
Championship: Saturday, October 12, 7 p.m

Class 1A, Section 34 at Bethany Christian

Game 1: LaVille (5-8) vs. Westville (2-11), Monday, October 7, 6 p.m
Game 2: SB Trinity (5-5-1) vs. Oregon-Davis (0-3), Tuesday, October 8, 5 p.m
Game 3: No. 3 Bethany Christian (8-2-3) vs. Marquette Catholic (9-4-1), Tuesday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m
Game 4: Elkhart Christian (4-8-2) vs. Game 1 winner, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 5 p.m
Game 5: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, Wednesday, October 9, 7:00 PM
Championship: Saturday, October 12, 7 p.m

GIRLS SOCCER 2024 IHSAA SECTIONAL DRAWING

Complete brackets can be found online at ihsaa.org. Records and rankings as of September 29.

Class 3A, Section 3 in South Bend Adams (school field)

Game 1: SB Riley (1-8-1) vs. LaPorte (1-12-1), Tuesday, October 8, 5:30 p.m
Game 2: SB Adams (5-7-1) vs. Mishawaka (2-12), Tuesday, October 8, 7:30 PM
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, Thursday, October 10, 5:30 p.m
Game 4: No. 14 Penn (6-5-3) vs. Michigan City (1-9), Thursday, October 10, 7:30 PM
Championship: Saturday, October 12, 2 p.m

Class 3A, Section 4 in Elkhart (West Campus)

Game 1: Goshen (7-5-1) vs. Warsaw (7-5-1), Tuesday, October 8, 6 p.m
Game 2: Concord (6-7-1) vs. Elkhart (3-8), Thursday, October 10, 5 p.m
Game 3: No. 11 Northridge (12-1-1) vs. winner of Game 1, Thursday, October 10, 7:00 PM
Championship: Saturday, October 12, 2 p.m

Class 2A, Section 18 at Mishawaka Marian

Game 1: No. 1 SB Saint Joseph (10-4) vs. Jimtown (12-2-1), Tuesday, October 8, 6 p.m
Game 2: No. 2 Mishawaka Marian (10-3-2) vs. John Glenn (9-4-1), Thursday, October 10, 5 p.m
Game 3: New Prairie (3-9) vs. winner of Game 1, Thursday, October 10, 7:00 PM
Championship: Saturday, October 12, 2 p.m

Class 2A, Section 21 at NorthWood

Game 1: No. 16 NorthWood (9-4-1) vs. Culver Academy (5-4-2), Tuesday, October 8, 6 p.m
Game 2: Plymouth (3-8-2) vs. Tippecanoe Valley (0-10), Thursday, October 10, 5:30 p.m
Game 3: Wawasee (0-11) vs. Game 1 winner, Thursday, October 10, 7:30 PM
Championship: Saturday, October 12, 2 p.m

Class 1A, Section 35 in Westview

Game 1: No. 5 Westview (7-5-2) vs. Central Noble (6-5), Tuesday, Oct. 8, 6 p.m
Game 2: No. 10 Elkhart Christian (12-2) vs. No. 8 SB Trinity (11-3), Wednesday, October 9, 5 p.m
Game 3: No. 13 Bremen (9-4-1) vs. Lakewood Park Christian (12-2), Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m
Game 4: Bethany Christian (1-10) vs. winner of Game 1, Thursday, October 10, 5 p.m
Game 5: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, Thursday, October 10, 7:00 PM
Championship: Saturday, October 12, 2 p.m

Class 1A, section 36 at Argos

Game 1: Manchester (7-6) vs. Culver Community (11-2), Tuesday, October 8, 5 p.m
Game 2: Oregon-Davis (0-6) vs. Rochester (1-7-3), Tuesday, October 8, 7 p.m
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, Thursday, October 10, 5:00 PM
Game 4: Argos (4-6-1) vs. LaVille (7-6), Thursday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m
Championship: Saturday, October 12, 2 p.m

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Analysis of South Bend-area IHSAA girls, boys soccer sectional draws