The Collinsville High School boys soccer team has to like its chances of advancing past the Regionals this weekend, if they can win their opening match.

Seeded fourth in the four-team Belleville West Regional, the Kahoks (3-3 Southwestern Conference, 10-10-1 overall) own a better record than third-seeded Belleville East (1-5 SWC, 6-11-1 overall). Collinsville defeated Belleville East 3-0 Oct. 15 and knocked off second seed Belleville West (3-3 SWC, 11-8-3 overall) 4-1 on Sept. 3.

Luis De Anda / Photo by Alex Paz.
Buy this and other Kahoks photos at photos.pazimages.com

Two major obstacles to advancement for Collinsville are the absence of its leading scorer and its first-round opponent. The Kahoks open Regional play against O’Fallon (5-1 SWC, 11-8 overall) at 5.p.m Tuesday. O’Fallon defeated Collinsville 3-0 at O’Fallon Sept. 10.

Kahoks’ senior striker Cody Sanftleben will not be available for the post-season after suffering a left shoulder injury in the penultimate game of the regular season. Despite missing the final game, Sanftleben’s 12 goals and 30 points were both second in the Southwestern Conference. Edwardsville’s Brent Heinlein led the league with 13 goals and 31 points.

Collinsville will take a 5-1 record in their last six matches into the contest Tuesday. O’Fallon has won four of its last five matches. The winner plays in the Regional Championship game at 7 p.m. Friday, at Belleville West, against the victor of the Belleville West v. Belleville East match.

Collinsville kicks off against O’Fallon at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Belleville West. Belleville East and Belleville West play at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the same stadium. The winner of each match will play at 7 p.m. Friday, also at Belleville West.

The winner of the Belleville West Regional will meet the winner of the Alton Regional at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29 at a site to be determined.