The high school schedule didn't get much clearer Tuesday as power outages and downed trees continued to cause problems.

The cutoff to complete soccer games is today at 6 p.m. and the MIAA is sticking to its deadline. The MIAA posted a message on its website saying it rejected proposals to alter cutoff times and dates. Instead, the MIAA will offer possible exemptions to teams on the bubble of qualifying:

"We welcome an email(s) to your MIAA sport executive and copied to your tournament director from either the principal or athletic director of the two schools briefly explaining why a contest(s) scheduled for this week cannot be played prior to the cutoff. (All matches that can be played should be played, as opposed to deciding not to compete in order to gain tournament access.)

"The circumstances you submit will be given individual consideration, possibly resulting in tournament participation with an incomplete and unqualifying record. For example, an 8-9 team that is unable to play the final match before the cut-off, may be provided access to that tournament with their 8-9 record, and be seeded accordingly."

The Hampshire Regional boys soccer team submitted such a request because it was unable to play its regular season finale against Southwick on Tuesday as both communities are struggling with massive power outages.

"We put a request in to the MIAA for consideration to be admitted to the tournament considering the hardship for both areas," Hampshire athletic director Ann Trytko said. "I guess a lot of schools are in the same boat. Southwick needed a win as well."

The Raiders had kept their postseason hopes alive by going 2-0-1 against Chicopee Comp (tie), Palmer (win) and Athol (win) to head into Tuesday's scheduled game against Southwick needing a win to qualify.

"The team has worked incredibly hard to put us in a position where we were poised to make the tournament with one more win. We just want the chance to compete and earn the right to play," Moynahan said in an email Tuesday night. "It would be a devastating blow if we fell short by one game because of an act of nature, especially since we played through that terrible storm at Athol just to give ourselves a chance to keep the season going. I think allowing us to play in a preliminary game, perhaps against Southwick, would be a fair way resolve this strange turn of events."

Trytko said she was not given a timetable for a decision, but it must be made soon as the seeding meeting will take place at Granby High School on Thursday at 1 p.m.

In some cases rescheduling involves more than just tournament implications.

The Northampton girls soccer team is one point behind Chicopee in the Central Division. The Blue Devils (12-3-1, 6-1-0) have one game remaining against Holyoke (3-10-3, 0-6-1). If Hamp wins, it claims the league championship. If it ties, it ties the Pacers for the crown.

Making matters more complicated is the fact Holyoke has a "no school, no play" policy. Since Holyoke public schools do not have school today, the decision to play rests with Superintendent David Dupont.

"We're trying to get in it," Northampton athletic director Jim Miller said. "We'll see what happens."

If teams cannot complete their schedules, they can apply for waivers from the MIAA to have that game stricken from its postseason record. If a game is not played, it counts as a loss for the tournament. Miller has already applied for one waiver to have Northampton's girls soccer game against Wahconah stricken. Likewise, Longmeadow may apply for one to have its boys soccer game against Northampton, which was cancelled Tuesday, waived.

Cross country

The PVIAC Championship Meet Saturday has been moved from Stanley Park in Westfield, to Holyoke Community College.

The junior varsity girls race starts at 1 p.m. with the JV boys at 2. The varsity girls start at 3 p.m. with the varsity boys at 3:40.