Steamboat Pilot & Today

The one thing that's certain in this year's adult soccer playoffs is that a new champion will be crowned.

Defending champion Westside Auto did not finish in the top half of the field, failing to make the playoffs. The seven teams competing this year have been determined and now the real fun starts.

On Tuesday night, the Dental Center Rovers opened the league's postseason with a game against Steamboat Medical at Christian Heritage School.

The tournament will continue Thursday with Fat Eddy's playing Vectra Bank at 5:45 p.m. on Christian Heritage School's north field and Mahogany Ridge playing Creekside United on Christian Heritage School's south field at the same time.

Next Tuesday, the soccer league will hold its semifinal games at 5:45 p.m. at Christian Heritage School. The championship game is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Aug. 26 on the south field at Christian Heritage School.

Steamboat Medical Center is the top-ranked team headed into the tournament after capping off a nearly perfect season at 9-0-1. Creekside takes the No. 2 slot in the tournament thanks to its 7-0-3 record and Spiffy Dog/Fat Eddy's is the No. 3 team at 7-2-1.

The championship game will mark the end of the league's 12-week season. This year, 14 teams completed in the 10-week regular season. Seven teams extended their season by advancing to the post season.

"The defending champion is out, so the field is pretty wide open," Christina Freeman said. "This has been a very competitive season."

Two teams finished the season without a loss and five teams finished with at least seven wins.

--To reach John F. Russell call 871-4209

or e-mail jrussell@steamboatpilot.com