The lacrosse playoff field has shrunk and just one Lexington County team is left standing before Saturday's championship games. 

Just two Lexington County teams advanced to the state semifinals. Chapin’s girls and Dutch Fork’s boys advanced to the penultimate week after earning wins in the first two rounds last week.

Chapin punched its ticket to the state title game this week on April 22, and Dutch Fork ended its season one game short on April 23.

The Eagles extended their win streak to nine with their three playoff wins and will have the chance to hit double-digits in the title game. Chapin breezed past Socastee in round one with a 21-5 win.

Things got intense in round two when the team was matched up with region rival River Bluff. The Gators were fresh off of a 15-7 first-round win against Carolina Forest and were already familiar with the Eagles, having played twice before.

River Bluff and Chapin played a closely contested match that saw consistent shifts in momentum. The Eagles jumped out to a 10-5 halftime lead but the Gators soon bit back.

River Bluff went on a 5-1 run to pull within a point in the fourth quarter. The Gators had all the momentum, extremely high energy and were the better team in the second half. They almost pulled off a massive upset before Brooke Holmes put a stop to things.

Holmes scored the game’s final two goals for Chapin. After the Gators pulled within one, Holmes put her head down and dove straight to the goal for a shot. A few minutes later, she did the same thing to give the Eagles more breathing room.

River Bluff had a few final possessions but was unable to get a clean look at the net. The clock eventually ran out and the Eagles’ players took off in celebration, while the Gators came together to lift each other’s spirits after a hard-fought battle.

Chapin carried the momentum of that victory into their contest against defined champions Wando on April 22. The two previously met on April 2 with the Eagles winning 13-8.

This contest was similar to the first with the Eagles emerging victorious, 11-5.

The win booked Chapin a trip to its fourth state title game. The school will be looking to win its second. Standing in its way is Fort Mill, who will travel to the county for the championship game this Saturday at 11 a.m. at Irmo High School.

On the boys side, Dutch Fork was the only Lexington County team left standings after the first week.

The Silver Foxes beat Socastee in round one 11-3 after Will Puckett scored six goals. The team faced Lexington in round two in a rematch of their previous meeting from region play.

Lexington won that game 10-9 en route to an undefeated region season and title. This time Dutch Fork came out on top, winning 6-1 after goalie Ben Studley stopped 11 of the 12 shots he faced.

The Silver Foxes had another opportunity for revenge in the semifinal against Wando. Dutch Fork previously lost to Wando 10-8.

The Silver Foxes have had to play all their games on the road, and this matchup was too much to overcome, losing 13-3. 

The Lexington girls and Chapin boys each won their first-round game but lost in the second. Lexington beat St. James 21-4 before falling to Wando 17-11. Chapin defeated Carolina Forest 15-1 and lost to Wando 15-4.

River Bluffs boys and Dutch Forks girls lost their first-round games, both to Wando as well.

Big Performances

Ava Claire-Collins helped push Chapin past the first week of competition, scoring 12 goals and two assists in the Eagles’ two wins.

Katy Graham scored five goals and added two assists for Lexington in its win against St. James.

Owen Salazar found ways to score and distribute for Chapin in its win over Carolina Forest, scoring four goals and setting up three others.

Ellie Eastwood scored four goals, won 10 of 16 draws, scooped two ground balls and forced three turnovers for River Bluff in its playoff win against Carolina Forest.

Ben Studley stopped 11 of Lexington’s 12 shots for Dutch Fork to help the Silver Foxes eliminate their region rival from the playoffs.

Third-round playoff schedule

Monday’s game

Chapin girls: 11, Wando: 5

Tuesday’s game

Wando: 13, Dutch Fork boys: 3

Saturday’s Championship game (at Irmo High School)

Chapin girls vs. Fort Mill — 11 a.m.