Girls soccer wins league, opens playoffs tomorrow at home

Fallbrook High School’s high school soccer team earned the fourth seed in the CIF Division I playoffs, which gave the Warriors a first-round bye and a home match tomorrow evening for their first playoff game.

The Warriors won the Avocado League with an 8-1-1 record and finished the regular season with a 12-6-2 record.

“We were hoping for a 3 seed, but we’re extremely happy with the 4 for sure,” said Fallbrook coach Davy Phillips.

Phillips had hoped that the Avocado League title would cause the playoff selection and seeding committee to rank the Warriors third among Division I squads.

“It’s one of the tougher leagues around, in my opinion,” Phillips said. “I was kind of expecting a 3 seed, but definitely my girls deserve a top four seed.”

The February 16 seeding and selection meeting gave the Warriors a February 19 bye while assigning Vista and Granite Hills to compete that day for the right to face Fallbrook in the quarterfinals.

“It will be a good test for us,” Phillips said. “Nothing’s going to come easy for sure.”

Fallbrook played Vista twice in league play, winning 1-0 both times. “Both games were just an absolute battle,” Phillips said.

The Warriors also defeated Granite Hills 1-0 during a tournament game.

Fallbrook won the Avocado League title for the third time in four years. “They deserve it,” Phillips said. “It’s a terrific group of seniors, and I’m excited they got their league championship back.”

A majority of the team’s 11 seniors have already finalized plans to play soccer in college.

The February 22 playoff game at Fallbrook High School will begin at 6 p.m.