Since mid-August, high school soccer teams from all over the state have been working toward one goal, winning a state championship.

    For nine local schools a state title is three games away as the 2012 state soccer championships begin today in Lake City, Twin Falls and Idaho Falls.

    With teams from local schools in each of the three classifications, let’s look at each school’s opening round match-up.

Girls

5A

Highland vs. Lake City, 11:30 a.m. at Lake City High School

    In her second year as head coach, the Highland girls’ soccer head coach, Korbie Vaughan, led the Rams to win the 5A Fifth/Sixth District championship over Hillcrest after suffering two regular season losses to the Knights.

    Highland uses its speed to create scoring opportunities and then relies on the backline to keep the opposing team off guard.

    Makenzie VanSickle and Jamiece Yizar are the main scoring threats for Highland and both will need to come up big as the Rams will face physical teams in each game.

    The Rams belong in the state tournament but they will have to lay like they did early in the season to get things going. Score early, score often then play solid defense is the keys to a Rams victory.

4A

Century vs. Wood River, 11 a.m. at the Idaho Falls Soccer Complex

    The Diamondback cruised through the 4A Fifth/Sixth District on the way to the district championship so arriving at the state tournament comes at the perfect time.

    Head coach Jamshid Roomiany has a mix of experience and youth on the team and the lack of chemistry showed early in the season. But as Roomiany has done in the past the team came together at the halfway point of the season and earned another state berth.

    Macy Goodwin has had an outstanding season including scoring five goals in a late season game.

    Sydney McRoberts, Olivia Wathne and Morgan Shaver will also have to contribute if the Diamondbacks are to bring a title back to Pocatello.

    The key will be how the Diamondbacks goalkeepers handle the pressure of the high scoring teams in their half of the draw.

Bishop Kelly vs. Preston 2 p.m.

    it took an early second half goal against Blackfoot for the Indians to clinch its spot in the state tournament.

    Despite not playing it’s best soccer down the stretch Preston is confident it will have a good showing in the tournament despite playing in a tough bracket.

    Kassie Burton and Kenidee Hyde will lead the Indians efforts.

3A

Shelley vs. Bliss, 11 a.m. at Sunway Soccer Complex, Twin Falls

    The 3A Sixth District champion Russets are one of three Southeast Idaho schools in the bracket.

    An upperclassmen heavy squad led by senior Courtney Wilde will need to play as well as they had late in the season if the Russets hope to have success.

McCall-Donnelly vs. American Falls, 11 a.m.

    The Beavers won the 3A Fifth District championship and are led by prolific scorer ??.

Timberlake vs. Marsh Valley, 2 p.m.

    Marsh Valley’s Jacinta May made sure the Eagles were going to make to the state tournament when scored the lone goal in teams play-in game win over Sugar-Salem.

    Now May and here teammates will get another shot to make a splash on the state’s biggest stage.

    The lost in the opening round to Bonners Ferry last year May and company are looking to make sure that does not happen again.  

Boys

4A

Blackfoot vs. Wood River, 11 a.m. at the Idaho Falls Soccer Complex

    Defending state champion Blackfoot returns with a powerful lineup and should be the favorite to repeat as champions.

    Senior Andy Garcia has been one of the bright spots on a team that easily on the Fifth/Sixth District title and was one bad half away from going through the season undefeated.

    The Broncos are deep and extremely quick and those two factors allow the team to pounce on opponents mistakes quickly.

    Blackfoot head coach Liam Pope knows this might be his best chance to repeat as champs, he also knows he has the team that is capable of doing it.

Skyview vs. Century, 2 p.m.

    There may be no hotter team coming into the state tournament than the Diamondbacks.

    Century won nine of its last 10 games heading into the tournament after defeating Preston 6-5 on penalty kicks to claim the Fifth/Sixth District’s second spot  at state.

    Unfortunately the Diamondbacks may be without senior defender Josh Goodwin for their opening game after he took a red card trying to stop a goal.

    Head coach Rocky Rhoades has gotten the most out of his young team this season, now it will be time to see how they react to playing at the state tournament.

3A

Fruitland vs. American Falls, 11 a.m. at the Sunway Soccer Complex, Twin Falls

    Just like the girls the American Falls boys soccer team won the Fifth District title, unfortunately the Beavers got put in the same half of the bracket as perennial power Fruitland.

    As their district opponents found out the Beavers can score a lot of goals and after a year absence from the state tournament the team is out to show the rest of teams they belong.

    State champions in each classification will be crowned on Saturday.