District 2A-AAA is not the only boys soccer district with drama.

Welcome to the one-match showdown that is Los Alamos-Capital for the District 2AAAA crown Saturday at 4 p.m.

The Hilltoppers lead the district at 7-0, while Capital is 6-1, with its only loss at Sullivan Field on Oct. 6 by a 1-0 count. The task is simple for Los Alamos — win and it is the district champion, which likely will include a first-round bye for the AAAA tournament next week.

Capital's path to the title is a bit more complicated.

The Jaguars have to win by at least two goals to win the title, because it would give them the head-to-head, goal-differential edge.

A one-goal win means the tiebreaker would come down to district goal differential, which could go to the Hilltoppers (they have outscored 2AAAA opponents 35-0, while Capital has a 34-9 difference).

Capital head coach Eugene Doyle has dedicated this week to focus specifically on the Hilltoppers, since a state tournament berth is a given for the Jaguars.

"This game has great implication on the district and the state (tournament)," Doyle says. "What happens in the state tournament happens down the line."

Regardless of the outcome, Doyle hopes Capital gets a first-round home match if it is seeded outside of the top four, who all get a bye. A district title would give the Jaguars hope of landing one of those byes.

"Well I think we should be in the three or four range because Los Alamos has proven to be a good team," Doyle says.

Demons look to future

The worst part of Santa Fe High's season just might end up being the best thing to happen to the Demons.

A nine-match slide, in which opponents held a 53-3 scoring advantage on Santa Fe High, led to major changes by head coach A.J. Herrera. Goalkeeper Kenny Welch moved to the back row, freshman Burch Ault took over for Welch and Jonathan Anchondo and Wilkin Flores also have seen time with Welch.

After a 10-0 mercy-rule loss at Albuquerque La Cueva on Oct. 14, the Demons pulled off a 1-0 win over Class AAAA contender Farmington on Saturday. Ault had nine saves against a team that beat Albuquerque Academy 3-0 a day earlier.

Tuesday saw Albuquerque Valley pull out a 1-0 District 2AAAAA win, but the Vikings had to go to a shootout. Herrera believes he might have found something that the program can build upon as it prepares for the move to AAAA in 2010. Welch is a part of six seniors — but only four of them are starters — the Demons will need to replace.

"Fortunately our 'D' fell into place," Herrera says. "Hindsight is 20/20, but you can't always look back. Right now, I have some plans for our young group heading into 4A."

State speculation

With the seeding meeting coming Sunday, here's some predictions about what the brackets will hold for the North's boys soccer coaches:

• Santa Fe High will not get an at-large spot in the Class AAAAA tournament.

• Capital, after a tough loss to Los Alamos, will be a six-seed and play at home next week. The Hilltoppers should be a four seed and get a bye.

• District 2A-AAA will get four teams in: St. Michael's, Santa Fe Preparatory, Monte del Sol and Desert Academy. Expect St. Michael's to earn the third seed and a bye. Prep will get a ninth seed and face Hope Christian.

• The Elks of Pojoaque will make it into the tournament — as the 12th seed.