The initial set of AIA Fall Soccer rankings were released on Thursday with the playoffs coming on the horizon, a little over four weeks from now. On the boy’s side, the four region champions will join the next four highly ranked teams to make up the playoff bracket consisting of eight teams but the playoffs on the girl’s side is a bit different.

There are only two regions in girls soccer in the fall and the champions of each will make the state playoffs. The four highly ranked teams that are not region champions will take part in a play-in tournament with the two winners from that tournament advancing to the state tournament comprised of four teams.

As of Thursday, No. 1 Chino Valley (4-0 in ranking matches) is leading the Fall North Region, No. 2 Highland Prep West (6-0) is leading the Fall Central Region, No. 3 Madison High Land (7-0) is in second place behind Highland Prep West, No. 4 Show Low (6-1) is leading the Fall East Region, No. 5 Payson (5-2) is third in the Fall Central Region, No. 6 Willcox (6-1) is leading the Fall South Region, No. 7 Snowflake (3-2) is second in the Fall East Region and No. 8 Benson (5-2) is in the third place in the Fall South Region.

For the girl’s No. 1 Show Low (6-1) leads the Fall North Region and No. 2 Northland Prep (6-1) leads the Fall Central Region. The next four teams are No. 3 Payson (4-1), No. 4 Blue Ridge (3-1), No. 5 Snowflake (4-3) and No. 6 St. Johns (1-3).

The rankings will change everyday from Tuesday through Friday for the remainder of the regular season so rankings can and will be fluid with teams falling in an out of the running for a playoff spot.

Northland Prep won the state championship in 2022 and 2023 and six of the last seven years dating back to 2017. For the boys, Chino Valley won in 2021 and 2022 and Snowflake won last year.