1. IRMO (6-1-0, 4A) -- Coach Phil Savitz's squad shutout White Knoll (8-0) and Lexington (2-0) as the Yellow Jackets won the "Battle of the Lake Murray Dam". This week sees Irmo with a tricky test against 12th-ranked Aiken on Tuesay, but the match is at W.C. Hawkins Stadium where the Yellow Jackets are awfully strong. Another home game on Thursday against North Augusta, which is led by junior standout Eric Baffour.
2. SOCASTEE (7-0-0, 4A) -- The Braves knocked off South Florence (4-1) and routed Marlboro County (12-0) on the Grand Strand last week and this week should figure more of the same as Socastee hosts Hartsville in their only match of the week.
3. NORTHWESTERN (6-1-0, 4A) -- The Trojans whipped Clover (6-0) and squeaked past Spring Valley (1-0) in Columbia to secure the pole position in Region 3-4A. Next week sees Coach Nick Finotti's squad hosting #15 Fort Mill and traveling back down I-77 for a Friday night game at #11 Ridge View.
4. DUTCH FORK (6-1-0, 4A) -- The Silver Foxes move up a notch after a pair of wins against ranked 4A squads. Dutch Fork eked out a 3-2 penalty kick win vs. Spring Valley and held off a late surge from home-standing T.L. Hanna (4-3). This week, Coach Wayne Quinlan's team will be in action three times at #11 Ridge View, at #5 2A Chapin, and at Lower Richland.
5. WANDO (8-1-0, 4A) -- Coach C.J. Rozzi's troops sandwiched double-digit victories against Battery Creek (15-0) and Colleton County (10-0) around a 2-nil home win vs. a sound Fort Dorchester side. The Warriors should meet little resistance this week as Wando plays Battery Creek and Berkeley.
6. DANIEL (4-0-0, 3A) -- The Lions faced their strongest competition to date and were victorious in a 3-1 victory at #3 Greenville. Coach Matt Hooper's team also roared to a 12-1 thrashing of Wade Hampton last week. Daniel has region games against lower-tier teams Pickens and Belton-Honea Path this week. Consider this a plea from SCSOCCER.COM for the Lions to upgrade their future schedules significantly!
7. EASTSIDE (6-1-0, 3A) -- The Eagles captured the Mauldin Cup this past weekend with a perfect 3-0 mark. Coach David Craig's squad completed a 5-0 record last week with wins against Wren (7-0, 6-2), Travelers Rest (8-0), Mauldin (5-1), and Greenville (2-1). The only blemish on the Eagles' slate thus far is a penalty kick loss to arch-rival Riverside, which was played at Furman University in week one. EHS will again be tested this week as the Eagles host 1A #1 Christ Church and take on 3A #5 J.L. Mann on the road!
8. SOUTH AIKEN (5-1-0, 4A) -- The Thoroughbreds enjoyed a big week with victories against Ridge View (1-0) and Greenbrier-GA (3-0) -- both ranked teams! Coach Paul Waters' talented squad will play at 4A #8 Spring Valley and host A.C. Flora this week.
9. BISHOP ENGLAND (3-1-1, 2A) -- The Battling Bishops won the battle of Charleston's premier private schools as BE slipped past Porter-Gaud 2-1 in a penalty kick shootout. This will be an extremely busy week for the Bishops as BE is scheduled to play five times: @ Waccamaw; Hanahan; Academic Magnet; Dreher; Shades Valley-AL.
10. SPRING VALLEY (3-3-0, 4A) -- Despite three losses, the Vikings remain in the Top 10 as a result of two losses via penalty kicks and the other by a lone goal. Spring Valley has faced a brutal opening slate that should serve them well over the course of the season. This week has Coach Dave Clark's Vikings playing three times at home: 4A #6 South Aiken; Rock Hill; and Lancaster.
11. HILTON HEAD (7-1-0, 4A) -- The Seahawks hammered Stratford (6-1), blanked Goose Creek (4-0), and beat a solid West Ashley squad (3-1). This week has Hilton Head playing Stratford and Battery Creek.
12. GREENVILLE (8-3-0, 3A) -- The Red Raiders only losses this season have come to 4A #5 Wando, 3A #4 Riverside, and 3A #2 Eastside by a total of four goals and one was in a PK shootout. Greenville plays out-of-form Mauldin before hosting Southside this week.
13. HILLCREST (3-0-0, 4A) -- A lack of games played is the only reason the Rams have not cracked the Top 10. Coach Karl Casida's squad has scalped three 4A teams that are/were ranked when Hillcrest faced those foes: Dorman; Ridge View; and Fort Mill. This week has Hillcrest entertaining Greenwood and Mauldin in key Region 1 action.
14. RIVERSIDE (3-1-0, 3A) -- The Warriors could also be higher had Riverside been able to complete the Byrnes Tournament, which was canceled after one round of play due to inclement weather. But, RHS has knocked off 4A Spartanburg and Dorman, as well as splitting a pair of PK Shootouts vs. 3A #2 Eastside (2-1 W) and 3A #3 Greenville (2-3 L). The Warriors will not be tested again until April when Riverside participates in the Palmetto Cup as Riverside clearly outclasses their region opponents.
15. RIDGE VIEW (4-2-1, 4A) -- The Blazers split a pair of one goal road decisions last week as Ridge View lost 0-1 to South Aiken and edged Fort Mill 2-1. Coach Kevin Darlington's squad has faced a tough slate so far and this week has three games on the docket: vs. 4A #4 Dutch Fork; @ Lancaster; and vs. 4A #3 Northwestern.
