A pair of Lexington County girls’ soccer team will be playing for a berth in the S.C. High School League finals on Monday.

River Bluff and Gray Collegiate both advanced to their respective Lower State finals after home victories Friday. The Lady Gators dethroned defending Class 5A Lower State champion Lexington 2-0 in The Swamp, while the Lady War Eagles defeated Barnwell 3-1 to advance to the Class 2A semifinals for the 2nd consecutive year.

River Bluff 2, Lexington 0

The 4-year run of Lower State final appearances for the Lady Wildcats came to an end Friday in The Swamp.

The nationally 11th-ranked Lady Gators scored in each half to remain undefeated on the season. The first came 5 minutes into the contest on a goal by Charlotte Sparkes from an assist off Megan Slattery.

With 16 minutes left in the 2nd half, Rylie Addis scored off an assit from Jordan Mishoe. Goalkeeper Jessica Padgett preserved the shutout and 3rd win this season against the Lady Wildcats after losing the previous 7 contests.

"Winning in the third round to advance to the Lower State Final is a goal we have had for the last two years," River Bluff head coach Kenneth Dunbaker said. "Being able to do it at home versus a crosstown rival just added to the moment for the girls." 

Monday’s opponent for River Bluff is Wando, which is playing its 4th Lower State final in 5 seasons in Lexington. The Lady Warriors had faced Lexington in the previous meetings, winning the 1st 3 before losing in double overtime last season on a goal by Mary Katherine-Waters.

Gray Collegiate 3, Barnwell 1

The Lady War Eagles are back in the Class 2A state semfinals.

This year, they’ve taken the route through the Lower State.

Senior Catherine McKeown put Gray Collegiate on the board after scoring on a penalty kick. It was the lone score of the first half.

In the 2nd half, Camrin McDermott found the open goal on a straight kick off a rebound to make it 2-0. After the Lady Warhorses cut it to 2-1, Raegan Gentry sealed the victory with a goal with 3:20 left.

Standing in the way of a 2nd state title appearance in 3 years for Heise (she led Brookland-Cayce to the Class 3A final in 2017) is sister school Gray Collegiate. The Lady Landsharks throttled Woodland 11-0 as Valentina Mosquera posted a ‘hat trick’ with 3 goals and Korbin Simmons-Hayward, Ellie Smith and Alexia Trio all had 2 each.

“We’re excited to play our sister school,” GCA head coach Emily Heise said. “I think it says a lot about our charter programs in general and what we’re doing academically and athletically. We look at it as a privilege to be able to find ourselves playing against a team like them in the Lower State champonship.”  

The Class 2A state title match is May 10 at W.C. Hawkins Stadium on the campus of Irmo High School.

Bishop England 5, Swansea 0

The Lady Tigers fell in the third round of the Class 3A playoffs.

SATURDAY’S BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Lexington at Wando 2 p.m.

Gilbert at Bishop England 3 p.m.

Dutch Fork at Socastee 6 p.m.