A new era dawns for soccer, with the advent of a five-division format. District seeding and brackets were unveiled over the weekend, with its usual lament for questionable seeding and nods to smart bracket placement sprinkled along the way. In lieu of a full district-by-district breakdown, a more targeted approach — gauging chances across The News-Herald coverage area for district advancement to regional competition — might prove more useful. With that in mind, let’s dive into those prospects, while bearing in mind that if a boys or girls side is not listed here, of course it doesn’t mean their chances are nonexistent. This is strictly a look at potential on paper heading into the tournament, which commences next week for Divisions III, IV and V and for D-I and D-II the following week. GIRLS Division I — With a field of 64, it’s a shorter road to get to regional competition, jumping right into district semifinals. Mentor has an interesting road in Northeast 4, with Brunswick on tap to start and a potential district final clash with Massillon Jackson. The Cardinals have a much younger side than years past but have been on a 6-2 stretch entering an Oct. 7 clash with Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin. Their propensity for heady combo play through the middle of the park and providing timely set-piece danger makes them a tough out. Division II — Over in Northeast 7, Mayfield has put together some impressive runs of form with a new-look squad. If chalk holds, the Wildcats would get Avon in a district final. If Mayfield can locate its off-ball movement and keep its defensive-third shifting tight — yes, it’s a tall order against the Eagles, but they might be able to give themselves a shot. Either way, it’ll be good experience for a younger-leaning side. Mayfield celebrates its 2-1 win at Mentor on Sept. 7. (Tim Phillis – for The News-Herald) Division III — Whoever emerges from an intriguing sectional final in Northeast 2 between NDCL and Gilmour could be a bracket disrupter, should chalk hold, against Warren Howland. The Lions, in Year 1 under Pamela Malone, have shown signs of improvement while playing a ton of underclassmen and can hit an opposing side in different ways, including with width. The Lancers’ 7-6-2 mark is a bit deceiving given their loaded strength of schedule, but they are capable. Over in Northeast 3, there could be an argument West Geauga and Kenston are underseeded. The Wolverines, paced by standout striker Adison Cook (17 goals, 10 assists in 2024), were competitive with Canfield in the regular season and could be again. With such an underclassman-laden core, West G will be fun to watch in the present and near-future. The Bombers have the attacking nucleus and seasoning from a tough schedule to be prepared for just about anything. This is not to say Canfield and Copley won’t be a handful in this bracket. It’s just to say there could be some seed-upset potential. Beaumont is a very good side with its best days arguably still ahead, but has not been quite the same since a 5-0 loss to Solon. The Blue Streaks’ danger is predicated on overlaps, and they need to be able with Taryn Kozak (11-7), Alaina Longmeier (6-6) and more to be able to locate it. If it’s siphoned by opposing midfielders, Beaumont has to find other options to get forward. Division IV — Northeast 3 is right up there as far as the most interesting brackets involving News-Herald coverage area sides. You can make a case for a regional run for Wickliffe and for Perry, along with perhaps some disruption potential for whoever gets out of that Lake Catholic-Beachwood sectional final. The Blue Devils have one of the best 1-2 striker pairings regardless of division in The News-Herald coverage area with their power-and-pace combo of Ava Gabriel (9-3) and Tiana Torrence (8-5). Wickliffe’s defensive-third play is underrated but solid. Perry is led by indefatigable and dynamic senior striker Jordan Rowan (54-2). Whoever faces the Pirates, any matchup will be determined by how the opposition approaches marking Rowan and how Perry adjusts. In Northeast 4, Joe Ciuni always seems to have a knack for placing his Chagrin Falls sides in positive-leaning bracket circumstances, this being no exception. The Tigers are playing a lot of youth throughout their 11 to complement veterans such as Bella Radomsky (8-7) in the attack and goalkeeper Izzy Pribanic. Nothing will faze this Chagrin side after what it’s seen CVC and nonconference. Division V — Berkshire finds itself in a Northeast 4 scenario in which, barring something totally unexpected, a district final seems to be beckoning against Warren Champion. On neutral turf, with the Badgers’ ability to possess with purpose and pace and having such a neutralizing force up top in Kelly McCandless (22-4), chances appear to be decent there. BOYS Division III — As part of the Northeast 1 bracket, if the version of University shows up that beat Hawken, Mentor and Andrews Osborne and tied North Ridgeville and Hudson WRA, this is a winnable district for the Preppers, even with so much new in 2024. US doesn’t score a ton but can be very good in the defensive third with wingbacks who can push into the attack to contribute. Harvey has been a tough side to gauge at times this fall but could get on a second straight regional run. The Red Raiders’ spine, with seniors Antonio Soto Rodriguez (10-2) and Christian Guerra (7-5) and developing sophomore Arturo Rangel Murillo (9-7), is as good as it gets locally. It feels like Harvey might be a bit underseeded. If the bracket holds, they’ll get to prove it against Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and Westlake. Chardon will be determined to prove its worth in Northeast 4 amid an historic campaign, and getting to a district final would mean so much to the program. But of course, that’s a tall order awaiting in Twinsburg if it does occur. Lake Catholic on its red-hot form and paced by standout senior attackers Harley Forkins and Alex Miljanovic should be a prohibitive favorite in Northeast 5. For now, not much more really needs to be said there except that Hawken could be a tricky all-area district final matchup should that come to fruition. Keep an eye on Kenston in Northeast 6 as well. The Bombers are on an eight-match unbeaten run, including ties with Revere and Shaker Heights. That doesn’t happen by fluke. That means you’re a good side who can make some noise in the postseason. Division IV — In Northeast 2, Beachwood will be the favorite to advance, led by 2023 All-American midfielder Grant Keilin (26-11), as it should given the Bison’s high caliber and hunger to net an elusive first state berth in program lore. That said, the wild card that is Andrews Osborne sitting on the other side of the bracket could make for an interesting district final. No, it’s not remotely the same AOA side that beat Beachwood on its way to the D-III state title last fall. But the Phoenix at optimal health and even with so many new faces could be tough here. Don’t sleep on Chagrin Falls in Northeast 3 as far as being a possible bracket buster, with striker Oscar DiFranco (26-7) and a capable side. Gilmour, with standout goalkeeper Brady Benisek and senior staple Carter Richmond (17-5) as the spearheads in a deep side, will not be a fun matchup should chalk hold in a district final for whoever emerges from a Norwayne-Hubbard semifinal. Division V — Kirtland has been a challenging side to decipher in 2024, albeit sitting at 9-2-3. But that doesn’t mean the Hornets, with Vince Carriero (15-5) leading the charge, don’t have a regional run in them. It will require something a lot better than their 80 against Beachwood on Oct. 1, though, as the stages grow in prominence.