The CIAC soccer tournaments begin Monday with several area teams hoping to fulfill a quest to reach the state championship games next weekend.Two, in Class LL, begin today as the Amity and West Haven boys have playdown games. This could get intriguing in the second round Thursday when Cheshire could play host to either Guilford or Fairfield Prep. The winner of this game has the best, and maybe only, shot of an area team reaching the semifinals.In the boys' Class L division, Wilbur Cross opens the tournament Tuesday with a home game against RHAM-Hebron. There is a chance Cross could face East Haven in Thursday's second round if both teams mananage to win on Tuesday. Sheehan will try to make another run to the semifinals as the No. 4 seed.In Class M, St. Joseph (No. 11 seed), Morgan (No. 13) and North Branford (No. 14) all have decent draws and could, with some good play and a little luck, reach the second week of tournament play. Old Saybrook will be trying to overcome a disappointing loss in the Shoreline Conference tournament semifinals by trying to advance deep into the Class S tournament as the No. 4 seed.In the girls' tournament, Cheshire comes off a SCC championship as the top seed. in Class LL. A matchup with No. 4 Masuk, the SWC champion, could happen in the semifinals without any upsets. Amity, last year's co-champion, is the No. 7 seed and hosts Bunnell on Monday in the opening round.In Class L, Hand drew the top seed and a first-round bye and will face the Bristol Eastern-Wilton winner on Wednesday at home. No. 5 Branford also has a bye and will face the Platt-Berlin winner at home Wednesday.In Class M, St. Joseph is No. 2, coming off its first loss of the season in the FCIAC Tournament semifinals. Lauralton Hall and North Branford could face off in Wednesday's second round if both win at home Monday.
To view the pairings, visit www.casciac.org.