Montana Class A Soccer Tournament Has Begun
High school teams across Montana are competing for state soccer titles following this week's Southern Division play-in games.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Soccer
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The Montana Class A state soccer tournament officially kicked off this week following the conclusion of Southern Division play-in matches. Teams from across the state are now vying for positions in the final bracket as the postseason intensifies.
Why it matters
The tournament structure determines which programs advance to the state championship, highlighting the competitive performance of teams after a full regular season. These play-in games are critical for determining the final seeding in the state bracket.
Regular season performance saw the Hamilton girls team finish with a 9-0-1 record, while the Hamilton boys secured a 5-2-1 mark. The Corvallis boys maintained a 3-1-3 record, and the Stevensville girls finished their regular season at 3-2-5.
The players
Hamilton
Hamilton is a high school program that finished its regular season with a 5-2-1 boys record and a 9-0-1 girls record.
Corvallis
Corvallis is a school whose boys soccer team concluded the regular season with a 3-1-3 record.
Stevensville
Stevensville is a high school program that finished the regular season with a 3-2-5 record in girls soccer.
Columbia Falls
Columbia Falls is a competitive soccer program that recorded a 7-2 victory over Hamilton earlier this season.
Polson
Polson is a participating school that hosted a girls division play-in game during the tournament's opening phase.
The details
The Southern Division was selected to host play-in games this year as part of an annual rotation system. Winners of these divisional matchups advance to host upcoming tournament games against Park.
Timeline
August 28, 2026: Columbia Falls defeated Hamilton 7-2.
October 6, 2026: Corvallis hosted Stevensville and Hamilton hosted Frenchtown.
October 8, 2026: Stevensville hosted Hamilton.
October 10, 2026: Corvallis played at Polson.
October 13, 2026: Southern Division soccer play-in games occurred.
Season Trajectory
The current tournament structure dictates the path to the championship, forcing programs to adapt to higher-stakes competition. Advancement in these games will redefine the postseason bracket and shift the outlook for the remaining state contenders.
Advancing teams must now prepare for host duties on October 16 or 17, impacting team travel logistics and home-field preparation. The outcome of the Stevensville-Polson match determines the hosting responsibilities for the next round of tournament play.
The takeaway
Tournament play requires teams to maintain momentum from their final regular season standings into sudden-death matchups. Fans should note that hosting schedules for upcoming rounds remain dependent on the results of the initial play-in games.
What happens next
Hamilton is scheduled to host Columbia Falls on October 17, 2026. The winners of the play-in games are slated to host Park on October 16 or 17, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on the regional bracket, visit the Soccer section.
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