Hyde Park (2nd/South) vs. East Boston (1st/North) at Boston English, 3:30 p.m.

Hyde Park (9-4) is making its first appearance in the playoffs since 2004, when the school finished its run of four consecutive South division titles.

Senior Vladimir Mead, who played keeper last year, is the team’s top scorer from his forward position. He plays up front now because Hyde Park has three goaltenders it can turn to.

Senior Amer Fadelelsaid, the team captain, orchestrates the offense from his midfield position. Coach Ian Glaude said Fadelelsaid’s intelligence in the classroom translates onto the soccer pitch, where he is able to direct the game.

“He’s the brain of the whole team,’’ Glaude said. “He leads the game very well. He calculates his passes and assists.’’

Senior Ralph Angrand, another midfielder, is also very good at directing traffic throughout the game, Glaude said.

Hyde Park has also been a good defensive club this season. The team has posted four shutouts.

“We try to make it a well-rounded team, but it just so happens that we have a well-rounded defense,’’ Glaude said.

Glaude said he has three goals for his team each season: to have self-respect, to work as a unit, and to have a good time. At the same time, the team is excited for the chance to earn bragging rights over the rest of the city.

“[The team] is very excited,’’ Glaude said. “Most of these kids have never gone past the city lines. It’s all they know.’’

East Boston (14-1), meanwhile, lost in the City final last year to Burke in penalty kicks. As such, the Jets enter the tournament looking for the chance to avenge last year’s loss.

The Jets are led offensively by sophomore midfielder Carlos Ruiz, who coach Lorenzo DiBenedetto said has the ability to control games.

“He’s well balanced; he has great handling, and he’s a distributor,’’ DiBenedetto said. “He’s a very nice player.’’

Juan Bonilla contributes offensively from his forward position, while defensive midfielder Jhoan Herrera leads a defense that has posted nine shutouts this season.

“Our midfielders get back, and everyone gets back except for the strikers,’’ DiBenedetto said. “Everyone goes back to defend.’’

DiBenedetto said the Jets had five goals this year: to win the City’s North division, to play good defense, to try to win the City title, to make the state tournament, and to advance in the states. A win in the City final would be the fourth goal to be achieved.

“We’re going to take it one game at a time, starting with Hyde Park,’’ DiBenedetto said. “All we ask for is the opportunity to play the best.’’

Madison Park (2nd/North) vs. Burke (1st/South) at White Stadium, 3:30 p.m. Madison Park (13-4) is led by a strong defensive unit that returned three of its four starters. Junior captain Claudio Soares leads the group.

Keeper Beitoven Baesa, a sophomore, has the ability to make some spectacular plays, Madison Park coach Joao Gomes said.

“Sometimes, the balls he gets to, it’s crazy,’’ Gomes said. “It gives us the ability to play with three defenders, sometimes, because of the confidence we have in him.’’

Up front, the Cardinals are led by sophomore midfielder Luis Tavares, sophomore forward Pedro DaSilva, and senior forward Arlindo DePina. The attacking portion of Madison Park’s lineup is largely new this season, with five new starters.

The team is also young, which Gomes said has been the cause of some growing pains.

“We’re still in the development process,’’ Gomes said. “We’re still playing kind of scared; there’s not a lot of resolution. But we definitely have Division 1 talent.’’

Burke, meanwhile, is the three-time defending City champion. The team has flourished this season, with a spotless 13-0 record, despite losing out on its preseason while the school searched for a new coach.

Gus Santos, who coached on the junior college level in the early 1990s, has gotten his players to buy into practicing six days each week.

“They bought into the whole notion of a team by practicing every day,’’ Santos said. “Even on Saturday mornings. Sometimes we’ll play four days a week and practice two; other weeks, we’ll play two and practice four.’’

As a result, Santos said, the team has been able to take advantage of its talent.

“We recognized we had talent, but if you don’t cultivate that talent, you’re not going anywhere,’’ he said. “We wanted to become a sharp team, and put the whole team concept first.’’

Burke defeated Madison Park, 4-0, earlier in the season. Santos said his team is entering the playoffs with a controlled confidence.

“We’re the three-time defending champions,’’ Santos said. “We’re talented enough to give it a good effort, and to defend [the title]. The players are all really proud of their effort, and now they’re ready to go to the next level.’’