Saturday marks the opening round of the 2018 NCHSAA state men’s soccer playoffs. Three Stanly teams have qualified for postseason play, with two of them meeting in the first round.

1A Playoffs

Gray Stone, having finished second in the Yadkin Valley Conference, will be at home facing a familiar opponent. The No. 11-seeded Knights (13-7-1) will take on county and conference rival Albemarle (9-9) at 6 p.m. Saturday at Pfeiffer University’s N.E. Lefko Field.

Saturday’s matchup will be the first time in recent memory the Knights and Bulldogs have faced off on the soccer pitch in a men’s playoff game.

The two teams split the season series. Gray Stone won the first match 5-0 at home Sept. 12, but Albemarle ended a long losing streak to the Knights with a 4-3 home win Oct. 15.

The winner of the game will travel to No. 6 Lincoln Charter (13-7-1) on Tuesday evening. Lincoln Charter received a bye in the first round. It finished tied with Thomas Jefferson Academy at 9-1 in the Southern Piedmont Conference.

2A Playoffs

The West Stanly Colts (11-6-1) have reached the postseason for second time in three years earning the No. 27 seed.

West will be on the road Saturday taking on No. 6 Hendersonville (12-3-2). The Bearcats finished tied with East Henderson for first place in the Mountain 6 Conference.