Soccer season is heating up in Lexington County as teams hit their stride early in conference play. 

The field is still wide open as many girls and boys soccer teams are playing great ball with a few weeks of regular season to go. The back half of the schedule will shape the region standings and determine the fate of every local team ahead of the playoffs. 

In the area’s 5A conference, Lexington, River Bluff and Chapin are playing like the top three teams for both boys and girls. 

The Wildcat boys have the best record in the region, beginning this week (11-1) overall. Lexington has a region win over Irmo, but suffered its first loss of the season in its game versus Chapin last week. 

The Eagles’ win over the Wildcats gives the team a huge advantage in the standings. Chapin, (6-2) overall and (2-0) in region, will at least tie Lexington in the season series, depending on how their second game goes. 

That second meeting between the Wildcats and Eagles is scheduled for April 14. The tie breaker may not matter when the regular season is done, but it’s a crucial card to have if it’s needed. 

River Bluff, (7-2) overall and (2-0) in region, has not played either Lexington or Chapin, entering this week. That changed on Tuesday when the Gators faced Chapin after the Chronicle’s press deadline. 

The three girls teams are seeing things unfold similarly to the boys. Lexington, River Bluff and Chapin are the top three teams in the league, while White Knoll, Irmo and Dutch Fork are trying to catch up from below. 

River Bluff and Lexington each have just one loss on their record so far this season. The Gators began this week (6-1-2) overall, and the Wildcats were (8-1-2). Chapin is not far behind at (5-2).

Like the boys, Chapin and Lexington’s girls have played once already this season. This time, Lexington got the win, beating Chapin in a shootout 4-3. 

In the lower classifications, teams like Gray’s girls, Swansea’s girls and Batesburg-Leesville’s boys are also emerging as favorites to finish high in the standings. 

Gray’s girls are (8-2-1) overall and (4-1), good for second place in the region standings. The War Eagles are a game behind South Aiken and a game up on Gilbert. 

The War Eagle boys are also playing good ball, shaking off an up-and-down non-region slate with a (4-1) conference start. Gray is tied for second with North Augusta. South Aiken is in first, and fellow Lexington County foe, Brookland-Cayce, is half a game back in fourth. 

Swansea’s girls played their first region game last week, beating Keenan 11-0. The Tigers are (7-1) on the year and began the week on a five-game shutout streak. 

The Tigers will look to keep things rolling this week with conference games versus Silver Bluff and Fox Creek.

Rounding things out, Batesburg-Leesville’s boys are the final remaining undefeated team in Lexington County. 

The Panthers began this week (6-0-1) and (1-0). The team is outscoring its competition 21-3 and riding a four-game win streak. 

Next week will be a huge test for the team when it hosts Saluda in a high-stakes conference game. 

Upcoming games to watch

Gray Collegiate vs. Blythewood girls - March 27

Swansea vs. Fox Creek girls - March 27

Gray Collegiate vs. Brookland-Cayce boys - March 30

Lexington vs. River Bluff girls - March 31

River Bluff vs. Lexington boys - March 31

Batesburg-Leesville vs. Saluda boys - March 31

Last week’s top performances 

Jennifer Gause had five goals and three assists in Northside Christian’s win versus North Central. 

Efren Estrada scored three goals and had two assists for Batesburg-Leesville in a win over Ninety Six.

Hailey Jiminez-Cortez had three goals and two assists for Brookland-Cayce against Airport. 

Andres Campo had two goals and two assists in Gray Collegiate’s 5-1 win over A.C. Flora. 

Emerson Powell recorded two goals for River Bluff in a shutout versus White Knoll.

A.J. Nunn scored twice and added an assist as Gilbert beat Airport 3-0.