The final month of the regular soccer season is here as teams around Lexington County look to strengthen their position in the standings. 

Playoffs will soon follow, and many local teams are in a good position to have positive seeding with just a few games left. Over the next few weeks, the final region competitions will be played and the standings will take shape, determining who will host and who will travel in the postseason. 

A handful of Lexington County teams are in contention and looking to claim a region championship. Across the five classifications for both boys and girls, 14 teams are in the top three of their region standings entering this week, and many can jump even higher. Five different teams began this week leading all other teams in their region. 

The Chapin boys soccer team has the edge over its competition entering this week. The Eagles are 5-0 in conference play, with a win over every team in the region. Chapin is set to face all of those teams again, looking to repeat its success from earlier this season. 

Chapin has been a force lately. The Eagles shook off an early three-game slump and have since won seven of their last eight contests. The team also enters this week on a four-game shutout streak, having beat River Bluff 2-0, Irmo 3-0, Oceanside 2-0 and White Knoll 9-0. 

Sitting close behind Chapin is River Bluff, who entered the week 4-1 in region play, with the lone loss coming against Chapin. River Bluff can even the series against the Eagles when the two meet again on April 8. 

Lexington and Dutch Fork are the two next teams below River Bluff. Both have multiple region wins but have lost some games as well. Under them sit Irmo and White Knoll, who have struggled against local competition. 

The girls standings are shaped similarly, except for the top where River Bluff, Chapin and Lexington begin the week tied for first. 

All three teams are 4-1, and their lone losses came against one of the others. River Bluff beat Chapin, Chapin beat Lexington and Lexington beat River Bluff. The three will face each other again, and the region champion will likely come down to who does the best against the others.  

In 4A, both Gray Collegiate teams are out front, but another Lexington County team lurks close behind. 

The Gray girls continue to be one of the hottest teams in the area, sitting as the last unbeaten team in the area. The War Eagles are 11-0 after last week and 8-0 in region games. 

However, one spot below Gray is Gilbert, who enters the week 6-1 in region games. The War Eagles and Indians have not played either of their two scheduled games this year, meaning both teams still have a straightforward path to the title.

Gray’s boys are also very talented and have an edge over their region mates. The War Eagles are 7-1 against region teams, but close behind them are the Brookland-Cayce Bearcats, who are 5-1. 

Brookalnd-Cayce and Gray will play their first of two games this week. 

Both Swansea teams are playing well and are near the top of their 3A group. 

The Tiger boys are 5-0 in conference with three games left to go. The team already holds one win over second-place Newberry and will look for its second this Friday. 

Swansea’s girls are a game back from Fox Creek but will have a chance to avenge its earlier loss on April 29. 

Big Performances 

Lizzy McDougall scored five goals as Lexington blew out White Knoll 13-0. 

Anna Allen had a hat trick with three goals and one assist for River Bluff in a win over Dutch Fork. 

Wyatt Moore finished with two goals and an assist for Dutch Fork as the Silver Foxes beat Irmo.

Victoria Coleman scored three times in Gray Collegiate's win against Aiken. 

Wyatt Jordan had two goals for Chapin as the Eagles beat Irmo 3-0. 

Wade Douroux scored twice for River Bluff as the team narrowly took down Lexington 3-2. 

Upcoming games to watch 

Boys

Brookalnd-Cayce vs. Gray Collegiate - April 3

Swansea vs. Newberry - April 4

American Leadership at Saluda - April 4

Chapin vs. River Bluff - April 8

Girls

Swansea at Newberry - April 4

Gilbert vs. Gray Collegiate - April 7 

River Bluff vs. Chapin -April 8

Gilbert at West Florence - April 8