Dauphin is set to host the Manitoba High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) soccer provincials, Oct. 13 and 14, at the Vermillion Park Sportsplex.

The Dauphin Clippers girls and boys teams won the zone playoffs in Swan River, last Thursday, and will represent Zone 8 at provincials.

Both Dauphin teams entered zones as the number one seed.

After the Swan Valley Tigers scored a narrow 3-2 victory over the McCreary Mustangs in the girls’ semifinal, Dauphin advanced to provincials with a 2-0 win over the Tigers in the final.

The Clippers boys beat the Alonsa Aces, 12-1 in their semifinal match before beating Swan Valley, 4-3, on penalty kicks to advance to provincials.

Clippers boys coach Cory Armstrong said it was the first time since he has been involved with the high school soccer program that the Clippers have been the top ranked team going into the zone playoffs.

“We’ve either been two or three, so it’s a great change,” he said.

Both Clippers teams, Armstrong said, are more evenly skilled than in past years.

“Meaning that some of our younger players, the Grade 9s, you can’t tell the difference from the rest of the team, because they’re very skilled. Which gives us a great advantage, because we play everybody and so when everybody is on the field, there’s not much difference between our starters and then our next group,” he said.

Dauphin enters the girls’ draw as the seventh seed and will face the 10th-ranked Hapnot Kopper Queens, Friday at 10 a.m., with the winner advancing to play the Niverville Panthers at 1:30 p.m., that day.

The boys, meanwhile enter provincials as the ninth seed and will open against no. eight, Frontier Mosakahiken Grizzlies of Moose Lake, Friday at 10 a.m. The winner advances to play the top-ranked Northlands Parkway Nighthawks of Winkler at 1:30 p.m.

Armstrong feels the Clippers have a good shot when it comes to provincials.

“It’s a tough sport. But I think we’re ready to go, definitely. We’ll keep playing and practicing and I think we have a good shot,” he said. “I think our girls have a really good shot at winning provincials. They’re a very strong team and our exchange students make us strong.”

The high school soccer program, Armstrong said, has come a long way thanks in part to the development of the players coming through the minor soccer program in the city.

Clippers girls coach Richard Kunicki said it has been a number of years since the Clippers have had two teams competing in soccer.

Both teams have played a number of tournaments, including the girls finishing atop the standings in a tournament in Swan River, a couple of weeks ago.

Kunicki liked the girls’ chances heading into zones and hoped to avoid having to play in a wildcard match for a spot at provincials.

Both teams, Kunicki said, played exceptionally well.

“Both girls and boys attacked the opposition with great tenacity and carried out the game plans perfectly,” he said, adding standout performances were put in by Raylyn Koshowski for the girls and Nick Plustwa, who scored seven goals for the boys, including hat tricks in both games. “Though every player had to contribute, the games were tough. We couldn’t be more proud,” he added.

Going into provincials, both teams have tough draws, Kunicki said, and will have to be at their best to get through the early stages.

“These are the strongest teams we have been able to field in Dauphin for a number of years, so we’re very excited. All the players involved have worked very hard since early August and we continue to get better with every game. So as tough as this tournament is, we believe in the players and we’re capable of doing well,” he added.

Both championship games will take place, Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

The tournament draws can be found on the MHSAA website at mhsaa.ca.