1. IRMO (4-1-0, 4A) -- The Yellow Jackets easily disposed of Airport, which bunkered down in front of goalkeeper Bryson Summers to limit the Irmo offensive attack. This week, IHS travels across the Lake Murray Dam to face White Knoll and arch-rival Lexington. Irmo should handle the Timberwolves with relative ease before the Friday night battle at Wildcat Hollow. LHS is winless at 0-4-1 in Coach Will Gettys' second season at the helm of the program, but this could be a dangerous game for the Yellow Jackets as the Wildcats are backed into a corner and have played well against a very tough schedule so far -- a pair of one goal losses to 3A-ranked Dreher and 4A #5 Dutch Fork, as well as a 1-1 draw at #11 Ridge View, and a late game collapse vs. #8 Hilton Head. Irmo edged Lexington 1-0 in a penalty kick shootout last year at W.C. Hawkins Stadium.
2. SOCASTEE (5-0-0, 4A) -- The Braves manhandled brand new school St. James 10-0 in their only match last week. Socastee will face very few threats in Region 6 play, but their stiffest competition might be this Tuesday vs. South Florence, which is 3-1-0 on the young season. Unless the Braves are playing in a mid-season tournament that is not currently listed on their schedule, I don't see a game they will be tested in until late season contests vs. North Myrtle Beach (4-1-0) and Myrtle Beach (4-2-0) -- that lack of top competition may hurt SHS come playoff time.
3. NORTHWESTERN (4-1-0, 4A) -- The Trojans won their only game last week 2-0 against Spartanburg. Northwestern's match vs. Boiling Springs was postponed due to field conditions in the Rock Hill area. NHS should have no problem with a struggling Clover (0-2-0) team that has not scored a goal in regular season play. But, on Friday comes a huge test at Spring Valley, which will have major Region 3 implications. Last year, the Trojans blitzed SV 5-2 in Rock Hill and 3-2 in Columbia. The Vikings looked very good at Mount Pleasant February 20-22, but the full two week layoff may hinder their fluidity.
4. SPRING VALLEY (3-1-0, 4A) -- The Vikings' only blemish on their record is a 1-0 penalty kick loss to Socastee in the championship of the Carolina Soccer Classic. Spring Valley had to cancel a scrimmage on Feb. 27 vs. Dorman and their only match last week with Irmo was postponed until April 3, due to the Lady Yellow Jackets playing in the Class 4A Basketball State Championship. One particular area Spring Valley will have to strengthen is their defense as the Vikings gave up two goals vs. Myrtle Beach and Pinewood Prep. This week comes massive tests against Dutch Fork and Northwestern. Last year SV downed the Silver Foxes 2-0 at Spring Valley, but this year's match is at Dutch Fork and you can bet the Foxes will be ready. Two games against Top 5 4A teams will give Coach Dave Clark a good indication of where his squad is at in early March.
5. DUTCH FORK (4-1-0, 4A) -- The Silver Foxes rolled Richland Northeast (6-1) and edged Lexington (2-1) last week in home matches. This week, Dutch Fork will entertain Spring Valley on Tuesday in a great matchup for the Midlands area. On Friday, Coach Wayne Quinlan takes his troops to the Electric City for a battle against a solid T.L. Hanna outfit. The Silver Foxes slipped past the Yellow Jackets 2-1 in Irmo last year, so you know Hanna will be looking to sting Dutch Fork in Anderson.
6. WANDO (5-1-0, 4A) -- The Warriors have ripped off five-straight wins since losing the opening match of the Carolina Soccer Classic to the defending SCISA 3A Champions, Porter-Gaud. Last week Wando knocked off a stingy Fort Dorchester side 3-1 and then bullied Colleton County 8-0. This week sees first-year Coach C.J. Rozzi's squad with three games -- @ Battery Creek and @ Colleton County sandwiched around a rematch with the Patriots. Much like Socastee, the Warriors do not have an over-bearing slate this season and it will be hard to gauge just how good Wando is until down the line when they meet the likes of a young James Island squad or improved teams at Stratford and West Ashley.
7. GREENVILLE (5-1-0, 3A) -- The Red Raiders had a big week with wins against Riverside (3-2 pk) and Wren (5-0). It could be more of the same this week as Greenville hosts 3A top-ranked Daniel and 1A #1 Christ Church. The Raiders are in the midst of a season-opening stretch that also sees them play Seneca on Saturday along with a tough match vs. Mauldin the following week. Coach Warren Turner's side can score as evidenced by their offensive prowess -- 19 goals in six matches vs. good competition. The Red Raiders are one of three or four Upper State teams that can make it to Columbia in May.
8. BISHOP ENGLAND (2-1-1, 2A) -- The Battling Bishops traveled to the Capital City last week and downed SCISA power Cardinal Newman 4-2. This week it's one match vs. another top-tier SCISA squad, Porter-Gaud, at Daniel Island. Bishop England. Highlighting BE's regular season schedule is a trip to Jekyll Island later this month to participate in the NIKE Invitational, which features top teams from around the Southeast. Bishop England is a solid front-runner for the 2A state title.
9. SOUTH AIKEN (3-1-0, 4A) -- The Thoroughbreds whipped Evans of Georgia 4-0 last week in their only match. This opponent is the 5A foe from the Peach State, not the 4A power Lakeside Evans, which South Aiken will play in April. Junior Craig Gulick, a transfer from Airport HS and one of five members of the Aiken Fire club team, notched a hat-trick in that game. SA will host #11 Ridge View on Wednesday in a game that will serve as a good barometer of where Coach Paul Waters' squad is at this time. On Friday, South Aiken will host 4A #10 Greenbrier (2-3-1) of Evans, GA.
10. HILTON HEAD (4-1-0, 4A) -- The Seahawks dismantled Goose Creek (9-0) at Hilton Head and topped West Ashley (3-1) on the road last week. HH will play three games this week against Stratford, at Goose Creek, and vs. West Ashley. Their only upcoming match vs. a 4A ranked foe comes later this month against Summerville (2-2-1).
11. RIVERSIDE (2-1-0, 3A) -- The Warriors split a pair of penalty kick shootout decisions last week as Greenville won the first match 3-2 and Riverside nipped arch-rival Eastside (2-1). RHS is one of those Upper State teams that could go the distance and Coach Dave Thureson's squad faces a young Dorman team this week in their only game.
12. HILLCREST (2-0-0, 4A) -- The Rams make their debut this week after wins against previously ranked Dorman (3-1) and Ridge View (1-0 pk). Coach Karl Casida's team is in action only once this week and that is a home game vs. Fort Mill, who the Rams tied 1-1 in a preseason scrimmage. Big tests loom next week against a solid Greenwood team and 4A ranked Mauldin.
13. DANIEL (2-0-0, 3A) -- It's always difficult to get a read on the Lions, because they rarely play in any top-level tournaments and are tucked so far in northwest South Carolina that most information gathered is from their region foes. Here's hoping first year Coach Matt Hooper can make some inroads with their Athletics Administration that really prohibits Daniel from making its' very successful boys soccer program more visible outside of Pickens County. In fact, according to the schedule, the Lions don't even play the full compliment of 16 regular season games -- opting for 13 to date! That being said, Daniel will travel to Sirrine Stadium for what should be a great match with Greenville on Monday. This is a rare battle of #1 vs. #2, so this matchup should shed some light as to who is the favorite in the Upper State 3A ranks.
14. RIDGE VIEW (3-1-1, 4A) -- Coach Kevin Darlington's Blazers are off to a 2-0-1 start with wins against 2A-ranked Pendleton and district rival Richland Northeast. RV also tied Lexington, but has been impressive in the exhibition season.
15. PINEWOOD PREP (2-2-0, SCISA) -- The Panthers don't begin play until March 19, but after Pinewood Prep gets started there will very little down time as PP is scheduled to play 19 matches in about 50 days. Pinewood Prep is the only team in the "Top 15" with two losses and I attributed a lot of that for them being without starters in the Carolina Soccer Classic due to other sport commitments. This is a strong and physical side that can compete at all levels in S.C.
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