There are two weeks left of regular-season play for Lexington County boys and girls soccer teams, and the race for playoff positioning is coming down to the wire. 

Entering this week, four local teams were leading their regions, but on very slim margins. Many other teams are within a few games of the top. 

The tightest race to watch over the next two weeks is in the girls 5A Region 4 conference. Lexington has a one-game advantage over Chapin and River Bluff, with just two to go. 

Lexington began this week (7-1) against its region competition and plays White Knoll on Tuesday after the Chronicle’s press deadline. The Wildcats end the region season Friday against River Bluff. 

River Bluff will have to play Dutch Fork before facing Lexington. That game is a must-win if the team wants to win the region. 

Chapin plays Irmo and White Knoll. 

The Wildcats have the advantage for now thanks to a pair of wins over the Eagles and Gators. Lexington beat River Bluff in their previous meeting and split the season series with Chapin. That split has allowed Chapin to stay in the race, since the Eagles also split with the Gators. 

Should all three teams split their season series, it would go to a tiebreaker to decide the final standings.

The boys' battle in that same region is also close, but the top team has a bit more separation. 

Chapin started the week with a slight lead, sitting a game up on Lexington with two to go. Dutch Fork is two games back in third, but a Chapin sweep over the Silver Foxes eliminates them from title contention.

Lexington will need some help if it wants to jump Chapin in the final week. The Wildcats did their part in splitting the season series last week, but need one more Chapin loss to at least tie. 

Chapin has games against Irmo and White Knoll this week, while Lexington plays White Knoll and River Bluff.

Gray Collegiate is the only program in Lexington County to top both its boys and girls standings. The War Eagles began this week with slight leads in both tables and three games remaining. 

The boys hold a one-game advantage over North Augusta. The Yellow Jackets got a key win over the War Eagles back in early March, but Gray made up for it a few weeks later in a 2-1 win. 

Gray will have to hold off Gilbert and face Aiken twice to end the season. The team has earned at least a top-two finish thanks to a three-game edge and sweep against South Aiken. 

The girls have an even smaller margin of error, entering this week tied with South Aiken at (10-1) in conference. The pair also split their series, leaving a strong chance the title will be decided by a tie-breaker. 

In the lower classifications, a few teams are also competing. 

Swansea’s boys are tied for first with Newberry at (5-0) each. The two have blown past all their other region mates and will end the season with a two-game series against each other. 

The Tiger girls are also in the hunt, sitting two games back from first-place with three games to go. Batesburg-Leesville’s boys are also within two games. 

Next week should provide more clarity as many of the region titles will have been decided. All that will be left to decide is exact placement and playoff seeding. 

Upcoming games to watch

Batesburg-Leesville at Saluda boys - April 23

River Bluff vs. Lexington girls - April 24

Lexington vs. River Bluff boys - April 24

Swansea vs. Newberry girls - April 24

Brookland-Cayce vs. North Augusta boys - April 27

Chapin at Blythewood girls - April 28

Last week’s top performances 

Angel Gerardo scored five goals for Batesburg-Leesville in a win over Ninety Six.

Ashlynn Smith finished with two goals and two assists as Gilbert beat Brookland-Cayce. 

Eric Greenwood had three goals and an assist in Dutch Fork’s win against White Knoll. 

Gretchen Sorrel scored twice and added an assist for Dutch Fork in a win against White Knoll.

Jefferson Moscosos Garcia finished with three goals and an assist as Brookland-Cayce beat Aiken. 

Victoria Coleman scored twice in Gray Collegiate’s win against South Aiken.