Division III soccer title game notes

In addition to fine coverage, as usual by the Freeps in their previews of the Division III boys and girls soccer state title games on Saturday, here's some notes I've compiled.

Boys

No. 8 Peoples (10-5-2) vs. No.7 Northfield (10-5-2), 10 a.m. at Randolph H.S.

Both teams were seeded low thanks to playing in the tough Captial Division against larger schools.

Both teams were 1-2-1 in last four regular season games.

They played to 0-0 tie on Oct. 10.

Peoples is 2-4 in D-III title games. Northfield is 6-8-2.

Peoples lost to Northfield eight straight times in the playoffs before beating the Marauders 2-1 in the 2000 title game. Since then, Peoples has won the last two playoff meetings, including a 2-1 win in the quarterfinals last year.

Peoples last title was in 2002 - a 3-0 win over Stowe. The Wolves have lost in the finals three times since then - 03, 07 and 08.

Northfield's last title was in 2004, a 3-2 win over South Royalton.

Peoples outscored opponents 27-12 in the regular season; Northfield outscored opponents 32-20.

Girls

No. 2 Oxbow (16-1) vs. No. 1 Peoples (16-1) at Randolph H.S., 1 p.m.

Peoples is 3-2 in state finals, winning in 06, 08 and 09. This is Oxbow's second title game; it lost in 2007.

Oxbow defeated Peoples in the quarters last year, 1-0. Oxbow is 2-1 all-time in the playoffs against PA.

Oxbow outscored opponents 55-9 in the regular season; PA outscored opponents 56-11. Both team's lone loss was a 1-0 defeat. Peoples has scored 18 goals in three playoff games and Oxbow has scored 16.

I will be photographing and writing about both games, as well as tweeting live updates, for the Burlington Free Press and posting photos at ColdHollowPhoto.com late Saturday night.