Lexington’s quest for undefeated season among many story lines to watch in soccer playoffs
Postseason for Midlands soccer teams begins Monday, and here are some things to watch for over the next two weeks:
Lexington’s quest for perfection
The Lexington girls (20-0-2) enter the playoffs as the No. 1 team in Class 4A, and the lone unbeaten team in the state in either boys or girls competition.
The Wildcats are ranked nationally and looking for their first state title appearance since 2007. Lexington has allowed 13 goals in 22 matches this season. Megan Classer is tied for second in the Midlands with 74 points.
Other Midlands contenders in Class 4A include Dutch Fork, Blythewood and Irmo.
Savitz looks to get River Bluff its first title
Phil Savitz won 14 state titles at Irmo, and looks to get the River Bluff boys their first title in the third year of the school.
The Gators made it to the Class 3A Lower State final in 2014 and Class 4A Lower State final last year. This season, River Bluff is 19-1 and ranked in the top five nationally. The Gators are a veteran team with 12 seniors.
The biggest challenge for River Bluff might come in the third round with a potential matchup against Wando. The Warriors are ranked No. 1 in the nation, and the only team to beat the Gators this season.
Other ranked Class 4A teams to watch are Blythewood and Dutch Fork.
Parker’s health question mark for Dreher girls
Dreher’s quest for second straight Class 3A girls title might hinge on the health of Kasey Parker. The Gatorade Player of the Year and North Carolina signee missed several matches down the stretch with a foot injury.
If Parker is able to return, it would give the Blue Devils a big boost. She is sixth in the Midlands with 21 goals and seventh with 51 points.
Midlands strong in 3A
A Midlands team has made it to the 3A boys and girls championship match the past two years and several teams have chance to continue that streak.
On the boys side, three Midlands teams are ranked in the top five with Region 4-3A champion Chapin leading the way. The Eagles were ranked No. 1 at one point this year, Dreher is ranked No. 4 and Brookland-Cayce is No. 5. The Bearcats went 10-0 in Region 5-3A and made it to the finals in 2014.
A.C. Flora is the defending state champion, but begins the playoffs on the road after finishing third in Region 4-3A.
For the girls, Chapin is the No. 1 team in the state and finished the regular season with five straight shutouts. Dreher is No. 2, with Swansea fifth and Brookland-Cayce sixth. Swansea’s Bri Reynolds is second in the Midlands with 74 points.
Class 2A contenders
Mid-Carolina and Newberry boys and Batesburg-Leesville and Pelion girls look to make deep postseason runs in Class 2A.
M-C’s Jose Reyes leads the Midlands in scoring with 84 points, and three Rebel players ranked in the top six in scoring.
B-L completed a perfect region record, and is led in scoring by Kaitlyn Anderson.
Cardinal Newman boys look to add to title haul
The SCISA playoff brackets haven’t been released, but Cardinal Newman’s boys will be the team to beat in Class 3A when they are.
The Cardinals have won three straight titles, and four in the last five years. Cardinal Newman played a tough non-region schedule with wins over defending state champion A.C. Flora, Christ Church and Lexington.
This story was originally published May 1, 2016 at 8:08 PM.