EDITOR'S NOTE: To view the full state program, click here. To view the 3A state playoff bracket and results, click here.

Gilbert Christian’s unceremonious end to the 2022-23 campaign has the No. 1-ranked Knights ready to go all the way when the 3A Boys Soccer State Championships get underway this week.

“This group of senior boys has been dedicated and working hard since their freshman year and have been supported well by a talented group of underclassmen,” Gilbert Christian head coach Devon Dickinson told AzPreps365.com via email.

The Knights (12-5, 5-1 3A East) won seven of eight matches to end the regular season, and are slated to open the state playoffs against No. 16 Palo Verde Magnet on Feb. 6.

During that 7-1 stretch, Gilbert Christian has outscored their opponents 50-4.

Last season, Gilbert Christian fell 5-0 to No. 2 Phoenix Country Day in the semifinals, which beat Northwest Christian in the state finals, 2-0 in overtime.

Led by forward Kaleb Powell, who leads the team with 25 goals and nine assists, the Knights could see Phoenix Country Day, ranked No. 4 in the state, in the state semifinals come Feb. 10.

“There are a lot of dangerous teams this year. Pusch Ridge, who has a lot of seniors and are performing well. Phoenix Country Day is good every year. I have a lot of respect for the Northwest Christian program, and I impressed with what coach John Axtell has done with ALA-Ironwood,” Dickinson said. “Thatcher is always physical and can never be underestimated.

Gilbert Christian could see ALA-Ironwood if they get past Phoenix Country Day in the quarterfinals. Pusch Ridge at No. 2, No. 3 Northwest Christian and No. 6 Thatcher are on the other side of the bracket.

Others to watch from Gilbert Christian include Sam Cavinder, who is the state leader in assists with 21, while midfielder Nate Dickinson has 11 goals and five assists this season.

“We need to execute and continue to stay focused. We have played so many top-ranked teams it becomes difficult to get hyped and focused game after game after game,” Dickinson said.

EMBRACE THE SUCK

At No. 3, the Crusaders (13-2-1, 7-0 3A Central) are region champs for the sixth time in seven years and are hungrier than ever after losing in an overtime thriller to Phoenix Country Day in the 3A state championship a season ago.

Northwest Christian came close to hoisting a state title trophy in 2019, losing 5-0 to Coronado.

“This year we have really focused on grinding and finishing out games,” Northwest Christian coach Jeremy Witt said. “Our boys have really understood that from the beginning of the season they deserve credit for that. They have done the work we’ve asked them to do all season and it has shown.”

Led by sophomore Malachi Huisman, who scored 26 goals and nabbed 12 assists this season, Northwest Christian’s motto this year is, “Embrace the Suck.”

“We do the hard work at practice to get the results in games,” Witt said. “We’ve had guys step up all season long. Our back line has been incredible this season and we have guys hungry to score and be productive.”

Northwest Christian opens the state playoffs Feb. 6 with No. 14 NFL Yet.

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH

Phoenix Country Day (11-1, 6-1 3A Central) came up just shy of a 3A Central region title this season, but at No. 4 in the rankings the defending state champs have just as good a chance as anyone this playoff season.

The Eagles have won six straight heading into the playoffs, and they will open with No. 13 Arete Prep on Feb. 6.

Phoenix Country Day is ready to defend their 3A state title from a season ago as they take on No. 13 Arete Prep to open the 3A Boys Soccer State Championships on Feb. 6, 2024. (Mark Jones/MaxPreps)Pusch Ridge (16-4, 5-0 3A South) are winners of eight straight and have outscored their opponents 66-23 this season.

The No. 2-seeded Lions open with No. 15 Scottsdale Christian on Feb. 6.

Rounding out the Top 5 seeds in this season’s playoff bracket is No. 5 ALA-Ironwood (9-4, 6-0 3A East), which faces No. 12 Tanque Verde on Feb. 6 in their playoff opener.

The Warriors made state as a No. 4 seed last season, beating San Tan Foothills 4-0 before losing to Northwest Christian in the quarterfinals, 4-0.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on Twitter @AzPreps365Brian. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.