A report says La Cueva’s opening match is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Manzano, where Eldorado will try to disrupt a team that has already been credited with victories over Cleveland, Volcano Vista and Albuquerque High.
The knockout format leaves little room for a slow start. La Cueva’s reputation may make it the favorite, but Eldorado has the clearest opportunity of the day to change the tournament’s direction.
The gold-bracket fixtures reportedly include:
The championship match is expected Saturday evening at Del Norte, giving the leading teams only a short turnaround between the semifinals and final.
The soccer schedule begins Thursday at Albuquerque Academy, with both girls’ and boys’ tournaments featuring several schools outside the metropolitan circuit.
The girls’ fixtures reportedly include:
The boys’ bracket features Cleveland vs. Santa Fe and Albuquerque Academy vs. Farmington, alongside Piedra Vista vs. Capital and Hobbs vs. Los Alamos.
The soccer semifinals are scheduled for Friday, with the girls’ final Saturday morning and the boys’ final later that day. The next storyline will be whether La Cueva can justify its billing-and which Albuquerque-area soccer contenders emerge from a crowded opening round.