SAN JOSE >> Aptos High’s girls soccer team, one of three teams from Santa Cruz County to qualify for the Central Coast Section playoffs, earned a No. 1 seed for a second straight season Thursday.

The Mariners, who have won three straight Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League titles under coach Gina Castaneda, will have a first-round home game while the other two local qualifying squads, Soquel and Pajaro Valley, open on the road.

The first round of action begins on Saturday.

Aptos (15-2-1) hosts No. 8 Homestead (8-7-4) in the Division II quarterfinals at 11 a.m.

The Mustangs took second place in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League’s De Anza Division behind champion Los Gatos (12-2-6), the No. 4 seed in D-I.

“I’m proud of us getting the first seed,” Cataneda said. “I don’t think it’s going to be easy in D-II. We’re going to have to stay composed emotionally, play as a team for the complete 90 to 100 minutes, and keep our heads in the game.”

If the Mariners win their opener, they’ll face either No. 4 Valley Christian (10-5-5) or No. 5 Branham (12-4-4) in Wednesday’s semifinals.

The Mariners, who have just two senior starters, are led on offense by Isabella Hartnett (19 goals and four assists), Alexa Castaneda (13 goals and 13 assists), and Scarlett Stateler (13 goals, 10 assists).

They have seven players who have produced three or more goals and have outscored opponents 77 to 11.

Goalie Evelyn Pini has helped the team record 11 shutouts.

Homestead is led by sophomore forward Saara Lahtela, who has 17 goals and two assists.

In quarterfinals on the other side of the bracket, No. 6 Sacred Heart Cathedral (9-5-5) plays at No. 3 Aragon (11-3-4), and No. 7 Crystal (14-2-3) plays at No. 2 Salinas (16-1-2).

Pajaro Valley (17-1-2), the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Mission Division champion, earned the No. 8 seed in D-III and plays at No. 1 Menlo-Atherton (9-6-3) at 5 p.m.

The Grizzlies are led by senior Valeria Acosta (45 goals and five assists), the CCS’s leading goal scorer, and Scarlet Gomez (six goals and 28 assists).

“I think it was unfortunate not getting a home game with the way that we played this season and our record,” Grizzlies coach Kristian Flores said. “We’re excited to get to play another playoff game. This is our second year in a row making playoffs. However, I think we’re all motivated to have a better showing this year.”

The Bears took second place in the Peninsula Athletic League’s Bay Division behind champion Woodside (11-4-6), the No. 7 seed in D-I.

If the Grizzlies win their opener, they’ll face either No. 4 Menlo (13-4-3) or No. 5 Carlmont (14-4-2) in the semifinals.

In quarterfinals on the other side of the bracket, No. 7 Soledad (17-2-1) plays at No. 2 Palo Alto (6-6-3), and No. 6 Evergreen Valley (11-6-1) plays at No. 3 Mountain View (10-7-2).

Soquel (12-4-2), the SCCAL runner-up, earned the No. 5 seed in D-IV and plays at No. 4 Willow Glen (10-6-3) in San Jose at 1 p.m.

Soquel is led by junior forward Isis Tumanson, who has 10 goals and 10 assists.

“Playing in CCS is an honor; not everyone will compete in this tournament,” said Knights coach Jose Sierra said. “Soquel is a resilient team, we are strong defensively and we have dangerous attackers. If the players play to their potential, we will be competitive. Anything can happen on a given day. “

The Rams, led by sophomore forward Story Mettee, who has 14 goals and five assists, took first place in the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s Santa Teresa West Division.

If the Knights win their opener, they’ll face either No. 1 Fremont (16-3-1) or No. 8 San Mateo (12-2-4) in Wednesday’s semifinals.

On the other side of the bracket, No. 7 Hollister (9-7-2) opens at No. 2 Christopher (12-5-3), and No. 6 Saratoga (15-2-1) plays No. 3 Nueva (18-2-0) at Skyline College.