CIF-SS boys and girls soccer playoffs: Hart boys take winning streak into Open Division

The Hart boys soccer team ended the regular season with a 15-game winning streak, and now the challenge is to keep it going in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

And that will be a big challenge for a team that just won its eighth consecutive league title, as Hart was placed Saturday in the Open Division. It is the section’s top division, an elite group of eight teams.

The Open Division uses a Champions League-style format (two games, rotating home sites and decided by the cumulative score). Two teams will advance to the championship game on Feb. 28 or March 1.

Hart (15-1) is the No. 6 seed and will begin the playoffs with a two-game series against No. 3 seed Mira Costa (20-2-1). The first matchup is at Hart on Wednesday and the teams meet again Friday at Mira Costa.

GIRLS SOCCER PLAYOFFS 

Three teams from the Daily News area — Oaks Christian, Notre Dame and Harvard-Westlake — were placed in the Open Division for the CIF-SS girls soccer playoffs.

Oaks Christian, (20-0-1), the Marmonte League champion, is the No. 2 seed, Notre Dame is No. 6 and Harvard-Westlake is No. 8.

The girls Open Division also uses the Champions League format.

Oaks Christian will face No. 7 seed Apple Valley in a two-game series to begin the playoffs. Oaks Christian will be on the road Wednesday and at home Friday.