Life West remains the favorite in NorCal. /// Photo: Jackie Finlan
Division I clubs are nearing the end of their respective regular seasons, and by May 6, the western portion of the national quarterfinals will be known (the eastern portion will still have repechage match to contest). Below is a review of the four American League competitive regions (CRs) that will send a representative to the Tucson, Ariz., playoff site on May 20-21.
RELATED: DII Club Update: American League • Women’s Rugby Results: April 8-9 • Seattle Ineligible for Playoffs
PACIFIC NORTH
There are two Geographic Unions (GUs) in the Pacific North: NorCal and Pacific Northwest. NorCal is classified as Division 1, but its runner-up will move onto the DII playoffs (Red River and Empire use this set-up as well). There is no DI league in the Pacific Northwest, only DII.
NorCal (standings) will host its semifinals this weekend and championship on April 22. The champion will move onto the DI national quarterfinals. The runner-up advances to the DII Pacific North final against the Pacific Northwest, to be held in the Bay Area on April 29.
Note that defending DI national champion Seattle made the difficult decision to remove itself from this year’s national playoffs: Read more.
PACIFIC SOUTH (standings)
The southern California league includes three teams, which added competitive friendlies against San Diego DI and the top tier of Pacific South DII (which count toward the DI teams’ standings). April 22 is the final round of league play and sees Santa Monica vs. Belmont Shore, and Tempe vs. San Diego DI. The Pacific South will hold its championships (across all club levels) on April 29 at the Little Q in San Diego.
FRONTIER (standings)
Black Ice now has some company and is joined by Glendale DI and the Utah Vipers in a three-team league. The home-and-away series will wrap up April 29, when Glendale travels to Utah for a rematch of last Saturday’s game, which went 55-33 to the Vipers.
Details on how the Frontier will name its rep to nationals is awaiting confirmation, but teams’ schedules list May 6 in Colorado as the playoff site.
RED RIVER (standings)
April 22 is the final round of league play, and 5-0 Austin has established a comfortable lead in the standings, outscoring opponents 293-5. The standings will seed the four teams into the Red River final four weekend (April 29-30) in St. Louis, Mo., and the titleholder will advance to the DI national quarterfinals. The runner-up will move onto the DII national quarterfinals.