Both Albert Lea High School soccer teams are seeded fourth in the Section 2A tournament.

Both have their sights set somewhat higher.

Despite taking some rough losses in the tough Big Nine Conference, coach Elia Romano’s boys’ squad and Rick Barnhill’s girls are hoping to play at least three or four more games.

The boys’ tournament starts Thursday, with the Tigers getting a bye along with top-seeded Northfield, No. 2 Mankato West and No. 3 St. Peter. The Tigers will host the winner of No. 5 Mankato Loyola and No. 12 Shakopee on Saturday. The semifinals are Tuesday, Oct. 19 and the championship game is Thursday, Oct. 21.

The section champions advance to the state tournament and will face the winner of Section 8A at St. Louis Park Oct. 27 at 5:30.

The ALHS boys were seeded as high as second &045; by Mankato West and Northfield &045; and as low as ninth &045; by Glencoe-Silver Lake and Shakopee &045; in voting by the section coaches.

The rest of the section seeds are No. 6 Worthington, No. 7 Central Minnesota Christian, No. 8 Willmar, No. 9 Southwest Minnesota Christian, No. 10 Glencoe-Silver Lake and No. 11 Mankato East.

The girls’ tournament starts Saturday, with the Tigers meeting fifth-seeded Mankato West at 1 p.m. at Hammer Field. The other first-round matchups are No. 8 Worthington at No. 1 Northfield, No. 6 Mankato East at No. 3 Shakopee and No. 7 Willmar at No. 2 Mankato Loyola.

The semifinals are Tuesday, Oct. 19 and the title game Thursday, Oct. 21. The higher-seeded team will host.

The Albert Lea girls were seeded third or fourth by the section coaches, four points away from Shakopee.

The girls’ Section 2A champions also play in the first round of state Oct. 27 at St. Louis Park, at 7:30, against the Section 8A winner.