Wild Card Selection Criteria

For divisions with the SAME number of teams in each pool and which require a wildcard for the round of 16, quarterfinal, or semifinal play, wildcard qualification shall be determined in accordance with the following sequential criteria:
- Teams with the most points.
- Winner of head-to-head competition. However, this criterion shall not be used when more than two teams are tied in points.
- Goal differentiation (goals scored minus goals against) with a maximum of five per game. The team with the highest goal differential advances.
- Fewest goals allowed. The team with the fewest goals allowed advances.
- Double-blind draw conducted by the MSYSA State Office (this shall only apply when all teams have earned a position in the round following the preliminary games).
- Kicks from the penalty mark.
For divisions with a DIFFERENT number of teams in each pool and which require a wildcard for a round of 16, quarterfinal, or semifinal play, a wildcard qualification shall be determined in accordance with the following sequential criteria:
- Teams with the highest average number of points per game (number of points divided by number of games).
- Goal differential (goals scored minus goals against) with a maximum of five per game. The team with the highest goal differential advances.
- Double blind draw conducted by the MSYSA State Office (this shall only apply when all teams have earned a position in the round following the preliminary games).
- Kicks from the penalty mark.
If more than two (2) teams are tied, the sequence shall be followed until one team is eliminated.
Once one team has been eliminated, the remaining teams shall then restart the sequence above until the tie is broken.
It is acceptable for two teams from the same preliminary bracket to play against each other in the Round of 16 and all other subsequent rounds.
Wildcard placement shall be at the discretion of the MSYSA JR State Cup Chair and/or the JR State Cup Chair Designee.