The high school soccer postseason begins this week in Lexington County as 23 teams gear up in pursuit of a state championship. 

Games began Monday with the 3A and 2A boys kicking the action off. Swansea, Pelion and Batesburg-Leesville were all in action with a spot in Thursday’s second round of games on the line. 

The girls got going on Tuesday with teams from every classification taking the field. 

River Bluff hosted Rock Hill, and Dutch Fork traveled to Byrnes in the 5A Division I bracket. Lexington took the first round off after finishing second in the region and earning a bye. 

Chapin finished first in the region this season and earned a bye in the 5A Division II postseason. White Knoll was the only Division II team on the field Tuesday, traveling to North Myrtle Beach. 

In 4A, Gray Collegiate and Gilbert both hosted games after taking the top two spots in their conference. The War Eagles welcomed Bluffton to town, while the Indians played Darlington. Brookland-Cayce was the only 4A team on the road in the first round, traveling to May River. 

Swansea’s girls hosted Orangeburg-Wilkinson in the first round of the 3A playoffs. Batesburg-Leesville and American Leadership were both on the road in the 2A bracket, playing Dixie and Brashier. 

The second round of girls games will be played on Friday.

Both 5A boys divisions and the 4A division will wrap up the first round slate on Wednesday. 

Lexington and Chapin also earned first-round byes in their respective boys brackets, while the rest of their region was in action. 

Dutch Fork played host to Rock Hill, and River Bluff played a road game at Dorman in the first round of the 5A Division I bracket. White Knoll traveled to Myrtle Beach, while Irmo hosted North Myrtle Beach in the Division II playoffs. 

Brookland-Cayce hosts Wilson in the first round of the 4A bracket. Gilbert and Gray played the only intracounty contest in the first round as the Indians traveled to Gray. 

The second round of 5A and 4A boys games will be played on Saturday. 

The third and fourth rounds of games will be held next week, with the fourth serving as this year’s upper and lower state championship games. 

The state championship games will be played May 22-24 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia.

Last week’s big performances

Shaelyn Smith scored four goals in Lexington’s win against Hammond.

Hailey Jiminez-Cortez recorded four goals for Brookland-Cayce as the Bearcats beat Hampton County.

Joey Sullivan had five saves in goal for Gray Collegiate in the team’s shutout win against Brookland-Cayce. 

Cade Hopp scored three goals in Gilbert’s win over Airport. 

Yassil Gomez Alvarado found the back of the net three times for White Knoll against Saluda. 

Avery Campbell had two goals and an assist for Gilbert in a shutout win versus Airport. 

Lexington County playoff schedule

5A Division I boys

River Bluff at Dorman - May 7 - Round one

Dutch Fork vs. Rock Hill - May 7 - Round one

River Bluff/Dorman at J.L. Mann - May 10 - Round two

Lexington vs. Dutch Fork/Rock Hill - May 10 - Round two

5A Division I girls

River Bluff vs. Rock Hill - May 6 - Round one

Dutch Fork at Byrnes - May 6 - Round one

Lexington vs. River Bluff/Rock Hill - May 9 - Round two

Dutch Fork/Byrnes at Mauldin- May 9 - Round two

5A Division II boys

White Knoll at Myrtle Beach - May 7 - Round one

Irmo vs. North Myrtle Beach - May 7 - Round one

Chapin vs. Socastee/Conway - May 10 - Round two

White Knoll/Myrtle Beach at West Florence - May 10 - Round two

Irmo/North Myrtle Beach at St. James - May 10 - Round two

5A Division II girls

White Knoll at North Myrtle Beach - May 6 - Round one

Chapin vs. Berkeley/Westwood - May 9 - Round two

White Knoll/North Myrtle Beach at St. James - May 9 - Round two

4A boys

Gray Collegiate vs. Gilbert - May 7 - Round one

Brookland-Cayce vs. Wilson - May 7 - Round one

4A round two - May 10

4A girls

Gilbert vs. Darlington - May 6 - Round one

Brookland-Cayce at May River - May 6 - Round one

Gray Collegiate vs. Bluffton - May 6 - Round one

4A round two - May 9

3A boys

Swansea: 6, Aynor: 0 - Round one

Swansea vs. Battery Creek - May 8 - Round two 

3A girls

Swansea vs. Orangeburg-Wilkinson - May 6 - Round one

3A round two - May 9

2A boys

Landrum: 5, Pelion: 2 - Round one

Batesburg-Leesville: 2, Bridges Prep: 1 - Round one

Batesburg Leesville at Lake City - May 8 - Round two

2A girls

Batesburg-Leesville at Dixie - May 6 - Round one

American Leadership at Brashier - May 6 - Round one

2A round two - May 9