Hickory High's boys' soccer team goes for its 26th victory tonight in a match that could get the Red Tornadoes to the quarterfinals of the state 3A playoffs.
The Red Tornadoes (25-1), coached by Brian Jillings, are at home at 6 p.m. to face South Point (10-10-2), a fourth seed from the Big South 3A-4A.
Hickory, the Northwestern 3A-4A regular-season champion, has won two playoff matches to get this opportunity.
The Red Tornadoes opened the postseason with a 4-1 home victory over Enka, a No. 3 seed from the Mountain Athletic 3A, and they won 6-0 over Ashbrook, the Big South 3A-4A top 3A seed, in Gastonia last Saturday.
South Point has been on the road throughout the playoffs, starting with a n upset of Mountain Athletic 3A No. 1 seed R-S Central, 1-0. The Red Raiders then went to East Henderson and beat the No. 2 seed from the Appalachian Athletic 3A 3-2.
A victory tonight puts the winner among the final eight in the state, and the Red Tornadoes would be at home on Saturday in the quarterfinals if they win.
Hickory has seeding priority over Mountain Athletic 3A No. 1 seed Asheville (15-6-4) and Forestview (14-8), which eliminated Fred T. Foard in the second round, is a No. 3 seed from the Big South 3A-4A. Forestview plays at Asheville tonight.
In the opposite West 3A bracket, Concord (14-7-11) goes to Marvin Ridge (18-2-1) and Charlotte Catholic (20-1-3) is at Concord Robinson (20-2-1).
The state semifinal matches are scheduled Nov. 18.
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