The opening week of the 2026 sectional soccer tournaments continues today with first-round action throughout Section 2.
Three girls' soccer first-round contests will be held, while eleven first-round games will take place in the boys' soccer tournament.
Top games
- Class AA girls - No. 9 Troy at No. 8 Amsterdam, 6:30 p.m.: Amsterdam (7-7-2) enters the playoffs unbeaten in seven games, including five straight wins in which it outscored opponents 16-1. Troy (9-7) won four of its final five regular-season games. The winner will face top-seeded Columbia in Monday's quarterfinals.
- Class B boys - No. 9 Coxsackie-Athens at No. 8 Catskill, 7 p.m.: The Patroon Conference rivals meet for the third time this season, with a quarterfinal game against top-seeded Cobleskill-Richmondville going to the winner. Coxsackie-Athens (6-8-2) opened the season with a 2-1 overtime win over Catskill (10-6), which won the rematch 2-0 in last week's regular-season finale.
- Class C boys - No. 9 Chatham at No. 8 Waterford-Halfmoon, 5 p.m.: Waterford (10-6) is led by Conner Belonga, one of Section 2's leading scorers with 28 goals. The Fordians, who finished third in the Wasaren League at 7-2, lost to Maple Hill in the regular-season finale, ending a three-game winning streak. Chatham (7-8-1) finished fifth in the Patroon Conference at 4-4-1. The winner faces top-seeded Maple Hill in Saturday's quarterfinals.
Player to watch
Graham Murphy, Mechanicville boys: Almost whenever No. 5 Mechanicville has needed a goal this season, Graham Murphy has delivered. The senior leads the team with 18 goals, including game-winners against Greenwich and Schuylerville. Mechanicville opens sectionals today against No. 12 Hoosick Falls and Murphy's ability to finish in the postseason will determine how far the team goes.
Brackets, scores & more
Boys' soccer
Girls' soccer
Subscribe
There’s more to Albany with the Times Union. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Section 2 soccer playoffs: What to watch in today's postseason action.