EDITOR'S NOTE: For an updated 2A and 3A Boys Soccer State Championship bracket, CLICK HERE.

With the 2026 Boys Soccer State Championships scheduled to get underway this week, there are several teams at the 2A and 3A level that are worth keeping an eye on.

2A BOYS SOCCER

PHOENIX COUNTRY DAY

Winners of three of the last four state titles at the 2A level, Phoenix Country Day (11-1, 7-0 2A Central) has made Paradise Valley proud and this playoff season, they hope to do so once again.

Since the 3-1 overtime loss to St. John Paul II Catholic, No. 3-seeded Phoenix Country Day has won 10 straight. They’ll open the 2A state playoffs with No. 14-seeded Tempe Prep. on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 3:30 p.m.

TRIVIUM PREP

Going undefeated in the regular season, Trivium Prep. (18-0, 5-0 2A Valley) won 18 straight games with an offensive powerhouse very few teams possess in soccer at this level.

The Crimson Knights scored 116 goals this season, or 6.4 per game, and allowed on four goals all year. In fact, all four goals allowed this season came in the first week of December, allowing one to Valley Christian, one to Arete Prep., and two to Benjamin Franklin.

Since Dec. 6, they’ve outscored their opponents 100-0.

“This team is built on toughness, elite chemistry, and high-level passing and ball movement with the core group that carried last year’s run to the state finals all returning,” coach Max Moreno said in a questionnaire he received from AzPreps365.com at the beginning of the season.

Trivium Prep. lost to Phoenix Country Day 4-2 in the 2025 state finals. The No. 1-seeded Crimson Knights begin their journey toward the program’s first title Feb. 11 when they host No. 16-seeded Desert Christian at 6 p.m.

Despite the clear seeding advantage, this first-round matchup also features one of the most prolific scorers in the state of Arizona, Patrick Wanes. The striker led all 2A scorers with 36 goals for Desert Christian.

Noah Messieha of Trivium Prep. wasn’t far behind him with 32 goals, which was good enough to be tied for second with Scottsdale Christian Academy’s Sage Doust.

Desert Christian also features one of the top goalkeepers in the state as well. Jordan Sexton recorded 152 saves this season, 71 more than his next-closest competition in keeper Yobani Hernandez (81) from Wickenburg.

ST. JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC

Having played powerhouse Trivium Prep. well in late January, eventually losing 2-0, St. John Paul II Catholic (13-3, 4-1 2A Valley) hopes that they’ll be able to make some noise in the 2A state playoffs as the No. 2 seed.

Led by Johan Romero and his 14 goals scored, the Catholic Lions open the playoffs Feb. 11 by hosting No. 15-seeded Wickenburg at 3:30 p.m., a team they beat Jan. 30 5-2.

3A BOYS SOCCER

GILBERT CHRISTIAN

Winning the program’s first 3A championship a season ago, Gilbert Christian (13-3-1, 6-0 3A Metro) is back to make it two in a row. They’ll do so by possessing the No. 1 overall seed in the 3A state playoffs and having won nine straight contests.

To challenge for another state title, coach Devon Dickenson said everyone in his group will need to “do their jobs.”

“We have a well-rounded team, and everyone simply needs to do their job at the highest level,” Dickenson said. “We have focused on building a program, not just one team. We build off the foundation that the alumni build in the prior years and continue to believe and push higher and higher.”

There is no player on the club who sticks out statistically when compared to other state contenders. Kal Lundberg leads the team with 10 goals, tied for 14th in 3A.

“We have a lot of talented players and one of the keys to our success is that we aren’t built around a handful of players but a team,” Dickinson said. “I wouldn’t say ‘keep an eye on so-and-so players,’ but rather how we perform as a team.”

Gilbert Christian opens with No. 16 Catalina on Feb. 11 at 6 p.m.

YUMA CATHOLIC

Featuring one of the top scorers in 3A soccer, if not the state of Arizona, Yuma Catholic (17-1-1, 5-0 3A West) has won seven straight coming into the 3A state playoffs having outscored their opponents 96-11 so far this season.

Cade Garcia leads all 3A scorers with 39 goals, 16 more than his next closest opponent in ALA-Ironwood’s Anthony Aguilar.

The No. 2-seeded Shamrocks are one of the top boys soccer programs in the state historically, with seven championship trophies sitting on a mantle somewhere among the hallways of their school. Their last title came in 2018.

A season ago, Ralph Evans led this group to the title match, only to lose 2-1 to Gilbert Christian. Prior to that, Evans and his Shamrocks made the 2020 title match in a 2-0 loss to Veritas Prep.

Yuma Catholic begins their journey Feb. 11 with No. 15-seeded Tonopah Valley at 6 p.m.

ALA-IRONWOOD

The No. 8-seeded Warriors are worth a mention in the 3A state tournament as they feature two note-worthy individuals in Aguilar, who is second in the state in scoring with 23 goals, and goalkeeper Connor Baker, who leads all of 3A keepers with 157 saves.

ALA-Ironwood opens the 3A state tournament Feb. 11 by hosting No. 9-seeded Bourgade Catholic. Official start time is set for 6 p.m.

 

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.