Six schools won state winter soccer titles last year (three boys and three girls squads in Divisions I-III). Five return for shots at repeats.

The girls' tournaments get postseason rolling Tuesday January 29 and the boys follow on Wednesday January 30 with first-round matches. Defending champs are Highland (D-I girls, Catalina Foothills (D-II girls),  Hamilton (D-I boys), Salpointe (D-II boys) and Cortez (D-III boys). None of them were No. 1 seeds last year. All quarterfinal matches are set for Saturday February 2 at 2 p.m. with semifinals and finals (depending on division) Feb. 5-9.

Highland and Catalina Foothills maintained a high-level of play finishing as the respective No. 3 seeds, in D-I and D-II girls. Catalina Foothills girls are the only team with a title streak intact. The Charlie Hendrick-coached Falcons have won three straight crowns (2010-2012). Hamilton's boys compete this year as the No. 9 seed. Salpointe is a No. 4 and Cortez No. 3 in their divisions. The eventual state champions last year were No. 3 seeds (Highland and Catalina Foothills girls), No. 5s (Cortez and Salpointe boys), No. 6 (Brophy) and No. 7 (Estrella Foothills girls).

With those facts in mind It wouldn't be reckless for coaches below the top few seeds (perhaps any) in each division to point that out and spew it with conviction. For example, Brophy in D-I was unbeaten and untied (12-0) in its power-ranking matches this year, but is 15th among the 16 playoff teams in terms of strength of schedule. The No. 3 seed (Desert Vista in D-I) is No. 1 out of 16 in strength of schedule rating.

Included below under the first-round tournament pairings are strength-of-schedule ratings for each state qualifier (best to worst). They are honed from final power-rankings that seeded the tournaments. Just something to compare when looking at  the brackets and perhaps something to look back on when trophies are handed out on Feb. 8 and Feb. 9.

GIRLS STATE SOCCER TOURNAMENTS

First-round Tuesday Jan. 29

DIVISION I

7 p.m. -- No. 16 Corona del Sol vs. No. 1 Pinnacle at Pinnacle HS; 5 p.m. -- No. 9 Millennium vs. No. 8 Perry at Highland HS; 5 pm. -- No. 12 Chandler vs. No. 5 Marana Mtn. View at Sahuaro HS; 7 p.m. -- No. 13 Red Mountain vs. No. 4 Xavier Prep at  Xavier;  7 p.m. -- No. 14 Mesa Mtn. View vs. No. 3 Highland at Highland HS; 5 p.m. -- No. 11 Willow Canyon vs. No. 6 Boulder Creek at Pinnacle HS; 5 p.m. -- No. 10 Chaparral vs. No. 7 Kofa at Kofa HS; 7 p.m. -- No. 15 Westview vs. No. 2 Desert Vista at Desert Vista HS.

Strength of schedule ratings: 1. Chandler; 2. Perry; 3. Desert Vista; 4. Highland; 5. Chaparral; 6. Corona del Sol; 7. Xavier; 8. Marana Mtn. View; 9. Pinnacle; 10. Westview; 11. Mesa Mtn. View; 12. Willow Canyon; 13. Millennium. 14. Red Mountain; 15. Boulder Creek. 16. Kofa.

DIVISION II

7 p.m. -- No. 16 Liberty vs. No. 1 Sahuaro at Sahuaro HS; 5 p.m. -- No. 9 Agua Fria vs. No. 8 Sahuarita at Palo Verde HS; 5 p.m. -- No. 12 Marana vs. No. 5 Arcadia at Xavier Prep; 7 p.m. - No. 13 Sabino vs. No. 4 Apollo at Apollo HS;  7 p.m. -- No. 14 Queen Creek vs. No. 3 Catalina Foothills at Catalina Foothills HS; 5 p.m. -- No. 11 Raymond Kellis vs. No. 6 Ironwood Ridge at Catalina Foothills HS;  5 p.m. -- No. 10 Notre Dame Prep vs. No. 7 Sunrise Mountain at Apollo HS; 3 p.m. -- No. 15 Mohave vs. No. 2 Flagstaff at Flagstaff HS.

Strength of schedule ratings:  1. Ironwood Ridge; 2. Catalina Foothills; 3. Sabino; 4. Sahuaro; 5. Notre Dame; 6. Flagstaff; 7. Raymond Kellis; 8. Liberty; 9. Mohave; 10. Sunrise Mountain; 11. Marana; 12. Apollo; 13. Queen Creek; 14. Sahuarita; 15. Agua Fria; 16. Arcadia.

DIVISION III

7 p.m. -- No. 16 Pusch Ridge vs. No. 1 Verrado at Verrado HS; 3 p.m. -- No. 9 Yuma Catholic vs. No. 8 Scottsdale Prep at Xavier Prep; 5 p.m. -- No. 12 Northwest Christian vs. No. 5 Fountain Hills at Campo Verde HS; 7 p.m. -- No. 13 Williams Field vs. No. 4 Campo Verde at Campo Verde HS; 6 p.m.-- No. 14 Safford, vs. No. 3 Mingus at Mingus HS; 5 p.m. -- No. 11 Catalina vs. No. 6 Seton Catholic at Desert Vista HS; 5 p.m. -- No. 10. Phoenix Country Day vs. No. 7 Cactus at Verrado HS; 7 p.m. -- No. 15 Higley vs. No. 2 Palo Verde at Palo Verde HS.

Strength of schedule ratings: 1. Mingus; 2. Fountain Hills; 3. Scottsdale Prep; 4. Campo Verde; 5. Williams Field; 6. Palo Verde; 7. Northwest Christian; 8. Yuma Catholic; 9. Catalina; 10. Pusch Ridge; 11. Higley; 12.  Cactus; 13. Phoenix Country Day. 14. Verrado; 15. Seton; 16. Safford.

BOYS STATE SOCCER TOURNAMENTS

First round Wednesday January 30

DIVISION I

7 p.m. -- No .16 Tucson vs. No. 1 Brophy at Brophy; 5 p.m. -- No. 9 Hamilton vs. No. 8 Pinnacle at Brophy; 5 p.m. -- No. 12 Westview vs. No. 5 Tolleson at South Mountain HS;; 7 p.m. -- No. 13 North vs. No. 4 Carl Hayden at Carl Hayden HS; 7 p.m.-- No. 14 Rincon vs. No. 3 Desert Vista at Desert Vista HS; 5 p.m. -- No. 11 Kofa vs. No. 6 Gilbert at Corona del Sol HS; 5 p.m. -- No. 10 San Luis vs. No. 7 Alhambraat Carl Hayden HS; 7 p.m. -- No. 15 Desert View vs. No. 2 Corona del Sol at Corona del Sol HS.

Strength of schedule ratings: 1. Desert Vista; 2. North; 3. Tolleson; 4. Corona del Sol; 5. Hamilton; 6. Carl Hayden; 7. Alhambra; 8. Kofa; 9. Westview; 10. San Luis. 11. Rincon; 12. Desert View; 13. Tucson; 14. Pinnacle; 15. Brophy; 16. Gilbert. 

DIVISION II

7 p.m. -- No. 16 Catalina Foothills vs. No. 1 South Mountain at South Mountain HS; 5 p.m. -- No. 9 Cactus  Shadows vs. No. 8 Queen Creek at Williams Field: 5 p.m. -- No. 12 Washington vs No. 5 Verrado at Copper Canyon HS; 7 p.m. -- No. 13 Mohave vs. No. 4 Salpointe at Salpointe HS; 7 p.m. -- No. 14 Apollo vs. No. 3 Copper Canyon at Copper Canyon HS; 5 p.m. -- No. 11 Notre Dame vs. No. 6 Campo Verde at Desert Vista HS; 5 p.m. -- No. 10 Flagstaff vs. No. 7 Thunderbirda Greenway HS; 7 p.m. -- No. 15 Tempe vs. No. 2 Greenway at Greenway HS.

Strength of schedule ratings: 1. Catalina Foothills; 2. South Mountain; 3. Cactus Shadows; 4. Salpointe; 5. Washington; 6. Apollo; 7. Tempe; 8. Greenway; 9. Campo Verde; 10. Thunderibrd; 11. Notre Dame; 12. Copper Canyon; 13. Verrado; 14. Flagstaff; 15. Queen Creek; 16. Mohave.

DIVISION III

7 p.m. -- No. 16 Thatcher  vs. No. 1 Coronado at Coronado HS; 5 p.m. -- No. 9 Fountain Hills vs. No. 8 Seton at Coronado HS; 6 p.m. -- No. 12 Horizon Honors vs. No. 5 Scottsdale Christian at Scottsdale Christian; 7 p.m. -- No. 13 Estrella Foothills vs. No. 4 Williams Field at Williams Field HS; 7 p.m. -- No. 14 Coolidge vs. No. 3 Cortez at Cortez HS; 5 p.m.-- No. 11 Combs vs. No. 6 Northwest Christian at Cortez HS ; 5 p.m. -- No. 10 Phoenix Christiain vs. No. 7 Palo Verde at Salpointe HS; 7 pm. -- No. 15 Amphitheater vs. No. 2 Douglas at Douglas HS.

Strength of schedule ratings: 1. Fountain Hills; 2. Estrella Foothills; 3. Horizon Honors; 4. Combs; 5. Williams Field; 6. Amphitheater; 7. Seton; 8. Coronado; 9. Scottsdale Christian; 10. Douglas; 11. Phoenix Christian; 12. Northwest Christian; 13. Cortez; 14. Palo Verde; 15. Thatcher; 16. Coolidge.