The final match day for the boys’ and girls’ soccer season on Wednesday featured multiple matches that had not only playoff implications but also Foothill League championship deciders.
On the boys’ side, the Valencia Vikings took home the title after a narrow 1-0 road win over the Grizzlies at Golden Valley High School.
For the Saugus girls’ soccer team, although the Lady Centurions played their final match on Monday, the team clinched the league title after Hart’s draw against West Ranch dropped the Lady Hawks to second in the standings.
With the Lady Centurions’ 10-1-1 league record, Saugus jumped to first place as the Lady Hawks finished with a 9-0-3 record.
As for the teams that made the playoffs in the top four of their respective standings, the brackets will be released on Saturday with the first round of competition scheduled to begin on Wednesday for the boys, and Thursday for the girls.
After Wednesday night’s games, here are scores from around the Foothill League:
Boys’ soccer
Valencia 1, Golden Valley 0: The Vikings (12-4-2, 10-2) finished atop the Foothill League standings and clinched the title following a narrow road win over the Grizzlies (8-8-1, 5-6-1).
Valencia junior midfielder Ciro Karapetyan bagged the lone goal off a penalty.
The Grizzlies fall out of an automatic berth into the fifth spot in the standings and now look to make the playoffs via an at-large playoff bid.
West Ranch 2, Hart 2: The match between the Wildcats (6-6-5, 4-4-4) and Hawks (7-4-5, 5-3-4) finished in a draw.
Despite the result, both teams are in the playoffs with an automatic berth and join Valencia and Saugus in the playoffs.
Canyon 6, Castaic 1: The Cowboys (4-13-4, 2-7-3) finished the year with a big win over the Castaic Coyotes (0-14-2, 0-11-1).
Neither team qualified for an automatic berth as they finished in the bottom of the Foothill League standings and finished below a .500 overall record for an at-large bid.
Girls’ soccer
Valencia 3, Golden Valley 1: The Lady Vikings (5-7-4, 5-4-3) finished fourth in the Foothill League standings after a 3-1 win over the Lady Grizzlies (1-23-2, 0-12).
With the win, the Lady Vikings earned an automatic playoff berth into the playoffs and will wait to see which division they’re placed in when the brackets are released Saturday.
Hart 0, West Ranch 0: The match between the Lady Hawks (11-7-3, 9-0-3) and Wildcats (7-6-4, 5-4-3) finished in a draw.
Heading into the matchup, all the Lady Hawks needed to win the Foothill League title was a win over West Ranch and avoid a draw or loss.
With the match ending in a draw, the Foothill League title is awarded to Saugus as the Lady Centurions finished with a 10-1-1 league record.
Regardless of the match results, both the Wildcats and Lady Hawks have earned automatic berths into the postseason and will join Saugus and Valencia.
Canyon 3, Castaic 1: The Canyon Cowboys (7-11-1, 4-8) finished their year with a win over the Castaic Coyotes (5-9, 4-8).
Neither team qualified for an automatic berth as they finished outside of the top four in the Foothill League standings and below a .500 overall record for an at-large bid.
