Brunswick and Bangor were tied for the top spot in the Eastern Class A girls’ soccer Heal point standings for nearly three days earlier this week with tournament indexes of 92.8571.
So, what happens if the Dragons and Rams, who currently are unbeaten, finish the regular season in a dead heat?
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A coin flip will be used to determine the top seed in the regional tournament.
“If two teams finish in a tie, and it is not for the last playoff spot, they will flip a coin to determine ranking,” said Mike Burnham, assistant executive director of the Maine Principals’ Association. “If it is for the last playoff spot, they will schedule a play-in game.”
Especially in the case of Brunswick and Bangor, there is no equitable way to decide which team would get home-field advantage during the regional playoffs in the event of a tie in the standings.
Both Brunswick, the defending state champion, and Bangor belong to the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference. However, the teams play in different divisions. They don’t play each other and they have no common opponents.
After Tuesday’s games, Brunswick (12-0) took sole possession of first place in the Eastern Class A Heal point standings followed closely by the Rams (10-0-2).
AS MANY as seven teams from the KVAC Class B division could qualify for a girls’ soccer regional tournament.
With less than a week left in the regular season, Leavitt, Oak Hill and Maranacook are ranked among the top six teams in the Western Class B Heal point standings; Camden Hills, Winslow and Gardiner are ranked among the top six teams in the Eastern Class B standings.
The top eight teams in Western Class B and the top nine teams in Eastern Class B qualify for the tournament.
Currently ranked 10th in Eastern Class B, Medomak Valley (7-4) still has a shot of qualifying for a berth in regional tournament.
“We still control our own destiny,” said Joel Lufkin, in his second season at Medomak Valley.
The Panthers, who defeated Belfast 4-3 on Wednesday, already have beaten Oak Hill and Maranacook.
If Medomak Valley beats Gardiner on Friday and Camden Hills in Tuesday’s regular-season finale, it could finish as high as third place in the region, Lufkin said.
UNBEATEN YARMOUTH started the most difficult part of its regular-season schedule Tuesday night with a scoreless tie against Falmouth.
The Clippers (11-0-1) appear to have a lock on the top seed in the Western Class B tournament, but the defending state champions would still like to go into postseason play on a positive note.
It won’t be easy.
Yarmouth goes on the road today to face York, currently ranked second in Western Class B, before finishing the regular season Tuesday night at Greely, ranked second in Western Class A.
“We’re just trying to play each game as it comes,” Yarmouth Coach Rich Smith said. “We didn’t think Falmouth was going to be an easy ride.”
Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at: pbetit@pressherald.com
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