Love the sectionals, hate the predictions ...

This is the time of year I both love and secretly dread.

Eight weeks of intense high school regular season soccer comes to a shuddering halt. In its place, a few days of exciting sectional and regional fare begins.

Great, except I now have to unearth my trusty crystal ball (I call her Gayle) from the increasingly crowded attic, and make some picks in public. And boy will I hear it when we both get it wrong.

To be fair to Gayle, she’s not done too badly over the past few seasons, but every now and again she gets a bit fuzzy and unclear, leaving it all up to me to make some tough choices. (I’m a Libra: we’re pretty useless at making decisions.)

First up are the boys, and the sectionals at Jeffersonville and Floyd Central this Thursday (Oct.8) and Saturday (Oct.10).

So c’mon Gayle, let’s see who’ll be singing ‘I’ll Get Over You,’ or whose brown eyes will be going blue ...

Jeffersonville (four teams):
Match 1 – Providence vs. Christian Academy of Indiana (Thursday, 5.30 p.m.)
Super. Right out of the traps we’ve got a game that is ripe for an upset. Last year, two days before sectional, Christian Academy defeated Providence 4-3 to signal its intent ahead of the big dance. It was a far cry from the 13-0 sectional defeat of 2005 to the same school.

However, Jeffersonville ended the Warriors’ hopes in game one with a 2-1 victory and that was the end of that.

One year on and CAI , with a record of 11-3-1, is confident of causing the upset. With All-District 5 goalkeeper Drew Mattingly and striker Andrew Rosenberg (36 goals thus far) in its squad, it has every reason to feel that way.

However, one of Providence’s strengths is center-half Keenan Sparks, who should be capable of taming Rosenberg, and while CAI has some useful players, it doesn’t quite have the strength in depth of the Pioneers, which could be the deciding factor.
Point of Note: Both teams played each other on Tuesday, with the game called of after 15 minutes. CAI was leading 1-0,after Rosenberg had scored on 13 minutes. Verdict: Providence.


Match 2 – Charlestown vs. Jeffersonville (Thursday 7.30 p.m.)
Jeffersonville will be fancying its chances to win not only sectional, but regional this year. After a 14-0 regular season victory against the Pirates, there shouldn’t be too much worry about reaching the sectional decider. Verdict: Jeffersonville.

Championship – Providence vs. Jeffersonville (Saturday, 7 p.m.).
Last year, the Pioneers won sectional against rival Jeff after a pulsating 2-2 matchup which went to penalty kicks.

This year, the Red Devils will be hoping to reverse the outcome, should they face Providence, and do so in 80 minutes.

Having won the regular season tie against the Pioneers in convincing fashion by a 4-2 scoreline, Ryan Bixler will be looking to the likes of Lucas Rigsby, Jordan Vejar, Vincent Straight, Spencer Whiteman and Gavin Leavell to secure a fourth sectional title.

Providence, meanwhile, will be hoping goalkeeper Taylor Hamblin and his defense can keep the Red Devils at bay, and that Andrew Gillenwater can take advantage of any glimpses of goal that come his way. Verdict Jeffersonville.

Floyd Central (five teams):
Match 1 – New Albany vs. Corydon Central (Thursday, 6 p.m.)
The last time New Albany met Corydon in sectional play was in 2005 when the Bulldogs ran out comfortable 5-0 winners.

Four years on and the gap in quality between the two programs no longer exists, exemplified by the Panthers’ upset 2-1 victory against New Albany in August.

Although the Bulldogs finished the season 4-10-1, Ben Vigar’s boys have strung together some good displays in recent weeks, losing out narrowly to Jeffersonville, Madison, and Columbus East, while finishing off with a 3-2 win against Evansville North on Saturday.

It’s that form, not their previous performance against Corydon, which should see them through to the semi final. Verdict: New Albany.

Match 2 – North Harrison vs. Floyd Central (Saturday, 11 a.m.)
The Highlanders will be hoping to exert as little energy as possible in this morning matchup ahead of the evening final, and the indications are that they should get their wish. Verdict Floyd Central.

Match 3 – Silver Creek vs. New Albany (Saturday, 1 p.m.)
Last year, the Dragons narrowly missed out on a final appearance after losing on penalty kicks to Salem. While Silver Creek – now in its third year as a soccer program -- has beaten the likes of Henryville (twice) and Charlestown, defeats to Jeffersonville (8-0), Corydon and Christian Academy (both 4-0) suggest Israel Benitos’ boys won’t be getting as close to reaching the final this time round. Verdict: New Albany.

Championship – Floyd Central vs. New Albany (Saturday, 7 p.m.)
The last time these two met in the championship decider -- in 2007 – they provided a thrilling encounter that finished 2-2 and went deep into penalty kicks before Floyd Central prevailed.
Then last year, when staged on New Albany’s home turf, the Bulldogs overcame their rivals in the semi-finals before going on to take the championship.

Floyd Central played four games in as many days that week and tiredness seemed to catch up on them. With their last regular season game tonight against Butler, and with no game to play on Thursday, the Highlanders will go into Saturday a much fresher outfit than last year, you would imagine.

Should the championship decider be New Albany versus Floyd Central, they will take to the field in confident mood, having beaten their rivals 4-0 in September.

The Bulldogs will be wondering how to put a stop to goalscoring machine Jordan Adams (on 24 goals before last night’s game). In fairness, New Albany has shown improvement since that game, helped in part by switching Nathan Blair into the middle, with Brandon McLaughlin playing defense.

However, with others such as Max Orwick, Chase Holland, Alec Steele and Matt Kelecy in the side, it is hard to see coach Zach Watson’s charges losing this one.

Verdict: Floyd Central.