(Editor's note: The Section 1, Class 1A semifinals are set for Monday evening, and the championship games are scheduled for Wednesday. The Post Bulletin sports staff will preview the Section 1-1A finals once the matchups are set.)

Just like that, we are officially into one of the best parts of the soccer season: section championship matches.

The past two months have led to this point, and now 10 local teams — four girls teams, six boys teams — are 80 minutes away from reaching the state tournament. In Section 1, Class 3A boys action on Tuesday, an all-Rochester final awaits, Mayo at Century, at 7 p.m. The Section 1-2A boys and girls finals are also on Tuesday, with the top-seeded Winona boys facing Austin at 5 p.m. at Byron High School. The 1-2A girls final follows at 7:30 p.m., with the undefeated Byron Bears looking for a 19th consecutive victory, against visiting Northfield.

Here's a glance at Tuesday's championship games:

When, where: 7 p.m. Tuesday, at Century High School

Records: Century is 15-2; Mayo is 12-3-2

Semifinals results: Mayo beat Lakeville North 2-1 (OT); Century beat John Marshall 2-1 (OT)

Mayo notes: For the fifth time in six years, the Spartans find themselves in the Section 1-3A championship game after a thrilling semifinal victory over Lakeville North. Amani Gupta equalized with just 2 minutes left in regulation before Fionn Pittock scored the game-winner in overtime on a free kick from 35 yards out. ... Gupta and Pittock have been terrific all season long. Gupta has dished out 13 assists and scored six goals for a Spartans team that averages just fewer than three goals per game (2.6). Pittock leads a backline that allows just 0.8 goals per game. Both of those marks are second best in Section 1. ... Brennan Zeone leads Mayo with 13 goals, followed by Anton Wolf (12). ... The Spartans are 11-1-2 since a 1-2 start, and are 3-1 in their last four Section 1-3A title game appearances.

Century notes: The Panthers, too, are coming off a thrilling semifinal, overtime victory. Corbin Wolfe headed home the game-winner in the second half of overtime to send top-seeded Century to its first section championship appearance since 2020. The Panthers have reached state just once (2005). ... The Big Nine Conference champions have been the cream of the crop all season long, scoring a section-best three goals per game, while allowing a measly 0.6 per game — just eight goals against in 17 games. Carson Niven, Carson Norgaard, Finn Eckerman and Wolfe are great for the Panthers, who beat Mayo 1-0 on Sept. 26. ... Second-year coach Andre Bailey has done a great job of installing a fun brand of soccer — one that prioritizes possession.

When, where: 5 p.m. Tuesday, Byron High School

Records: Winona is 14-2-1; Austin is 9-7-2

Semifinals results: Austin beat Faribault 4-0; Winona beat Northfield 3-1

Austin notes: Austin is back in the section championship game for the first time since 2022 — that was also the last time the Packers reached the state tournament. ... Law Htoo scored a second-half hat trick in the semifinals ... Essey Welday also found the back of the net for Austin, which averages 2.2 goals per game and allows 1.8. ... The Packers finished sixth in the Big Nine Conference, going 5-3-2.

Winona notes: The Winhawks are on the brink of history, just one win away from the program's first trip to state. ... They knocked off three-time defending section champion Northfield, easily, advancing to the Section 1 title game for the first time since 2022. ... Winona has impressed all season long, finishing third (7-2-1) in the rugged Big Nine behind Century and Mayo. It was responsible for Century's lone Big Nine defeat — a 2-1 victory on Sept. 29. Overall, the Winhawks are unbeaten in their last nine games. That includes a 4-2 defeat of Austin on Oct. 6. ... Leif Overhaug, Jose Carrion Lopez and Sergio Carrion Lopez are three great players for Winona. They can all score and facilitate. ... The Winhawks score a Section 1-2A best 3.7 goals per game, and are tops in goals allowed as well (0.9). ... Winona has scored multiple goals in 14 of its 17 games.

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Byron High School

Records: Byron is 18-0-0; Northfield 11-5-2

Semifinals results: Northfield beat Pine Island/Zumbrota-Mazeppa 6-0; Byron beat Faribault 6-0.

Northfield notes: Northfield is coached by Blake Kane, son of former longtime Lourdes boys coach Tom Kane. The Raiders have won seven of their last nine games, including a 9-1 romp over Waseca in the section quarterfinals. Northfield lost to Byron 3-1 on Oct. 5. It was also beaten by Mayo 4-0 and by Century 4-0. ... The Raiders average 3.6 goals per game and give up 1.2. Junior forward Danika Bufler has 17 goals and 10 assists.

Byron notes: Byron has finished as section champion the last two years. Last season it beat Kasson-Mantorville 4-0 in the section title game. It then lost 2-1 to Mankato East in the first round of the state tournament. ... Unbeaten Byron (18-0) is ranked fourth in Class 2A behind Blake, Hill-Murray and Holy Angels. ... The Bears have balanced scoring. Senior forward Alyse Ayen has 16 goals and 10 assists, sophomore midfielder Raegan Kelm 15 goals and 18 assists, junior forward Avery Rossow 13 goals and seven assists, senior midfielder Leah Ellavsky 10 goals and nine assists, and junior midfielder Kylie Baumbach eight goals and 10 assists. Ellavsky was last year's Post-Bulletin All-Area Player of the Year. ... The Bears average a whopping five goals per game and give up just 0.3 per game.

Post Bulletin sports reporter Pat Ruff contributed to this report.