The end of the regular season in girls soccer is Saturday, with the opening round beginning as soon as May 7.
That means, for teams around the postseason bubble, there are only a couple more chances to improve their seeding in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index — which along with league champs, will determine the playoff bracket in each classification.
Brackets in the 5A-3A classifications are made up of 32 teams. Class 2A is a 16-team field.
Class 5A
First four in: No. 29 Chatfield (4-6-1), No. 30 Denver South (7-4-2), No. 31 Doherty (8-3-1) and No. 32 Poudre (6-5-1).
First four out: No. 33 Liberty (5-5-3), No. 34 Monarch (5-7-1), No. 35 Eaglecrest (7-6) and No. 36 Regis Jesuit (1-10-2).
The Chargers (4-6-1), at No. 29, are currently holding onto a postseason spot despite their lopsided home-to-road record. This season, they’re 3-0-1 at home and 1-6 away from it.
Harper Roser, who has scored six of her eight goals this season in April, could be a catalyst in the final week for them.
Good news for the Chargers — they are home in their final two games, facing No. 14 Valor Christian (7-2-2) on Tuesday before turning around 24 hours later to face No. 56 Pomona (1-11) on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, among those just on the outside is Monarch (5-7-1). The No. 34 Coyotes have made a nice push late into the season, scoring 21 goals over their last three games after being shutout in the three prior.
Cami Ayandele scored six times in a win over No. 51 Northglenn last week and leads the team in points (48) and goals (18).
The Coyotes are at No. 39 Prairie View on Tuesday before finishing at home against fellow-5A bubble team Poudre, ranked 32nd, on Saturday.
Class 4A
First four in: No. 29 Pueblo West (7-3-2), No. 30 Canon City (6-4-3), No. 31 Steamboat Springs (6-5-2) and No. 32 Eagle Valley (6-4-3).
First four out: No. 33 Thomas Jefferson (8-3-1), No. 34 Grand Junction (4-6-3), No. 35 Standley Lake (7-5-1) and No. 36 Centaurus (5-5-1).
Pueblo West — despite just barely being on the right side of the bubble at No. 29 — can secure the South Central League title and an automatic bid with a win over No. 9 Pueblo County on Thursday.
Before that, though, the Cyclones, led by Jocelyn Thompson’s 15 goals and 40 points, host No. 37 Pueblo Centennial on Tuesday.
Thomas Jefferson is on the outside. Just 1-2-1 in its last four games, the Spartans are currently the first team out.
This week, they face a pair of 5A teams to close out their season, with a home game against No. 47 Westminster on Wednesday and a road affair against No. 30 Denver South on Friday.
They’ll likely need solid results in both to sneak into the playoff field. Which means, they’ll probably need even more production from senior leader Alea Dukes, who comes into the week with a team-best 22 goals and 52 points.
Class 3A
First four in: No. 29 Englewood (7-4-3), No. 30 Aspen (4-7-1), No. 31 Rifle (6-6-1) and No. 32 Harrison (6-4-3).
First four out: No. 33 Woodland Park (5-7-1), No. 34 Coal Ridge (4-8-1), No. 35 Arrupe Jesuit (5-5-3) and No. 36 DSST: Montview (4-4-3).
On the back of senior Dariana Ortega-Torres, No. 31 Rifle has won three of its last four games to sneak onto the right side of the bubble.
In those wins, Ortega-Torres scored eight of 16 goals on the season.
This week, the Bears will look to end a six-game losing streak to No. 10 Roaring Fork on Tuesday before ending their regular season at No. 60 Moffat County on Thursday.
Harrison is one spot back of them, currently slated as the last team in.
Senior Tyara Vazquez has scored 28 of her team’s 37 goals this season, but the Panthers have scored just one goal over their last four games (1-2-1).
Harrison closes the season at home, facing 4A No. 30 Canon City on Tuesday and 3A No. 55 Atlas Prep on Thursday.
Class 2A
First four in: No. 13 Gilpin County (5-5-1), No. 14 Addenbrooke Classical Academy (9-3), No. 15 Rocky Mountain Lutheran (3-6-1) and No. 16 Windsor Charter Academy (5-5-1).
First four out: No. 17 Telluride (3-6-1), No. 18 Front Range Christian (5-6-1), No. 19 Ridgway (6-4) and No. 20 St. Mary’s (5-6-1).
No. 16 Windsor Charter is currently the last team in.
The Firebirds are 0-2-1 over their last three games and will likely need a strong finish to get into the playoffs.
Led by Dillan Brown’s 14 goals, the Firebirds have three road games to close out their regular season. They’re at No. 45 Estes Park on Tuesday, No. 3 SkyView Academy on Thursday and No. 22 Clear Creek on Friday.
Meanwhile, Ridgway, at No. 19, will likely need to win its last two games, and perhaps get some luck, to sneak in.
The Demons have already proven they can play with the top teams in the class: Earlier this month, they were tied 3-3 with No. 5 Crested Butte at halftime before falling 5-3.
But they’ll need someone to step up in the final week to make one last push. Perhaps Addy Gardiner, who leads the team with 10 goals and three assists.
They face 3A No. 26 Bayfield on Tuesday and fellow-2A bubble team Telluride on Thursday, both at home.