The field got a whole lot thinner. 

A week full of upsets, blowouts and thrillers has concluded. After one week, Lexington County is down to six soccer teams remaining in the chase for a state title. 

Lexington’s boys, River Bluff’s girls, Chapin’s boys and girls, Gray Collegiate’s boys and Swansea’s boys began this week as the last local teams standing. Each team will be in action this week with a spot in the upper and lower state championship games on the line. 

Most of the third-round games take place early this week. Only Gray and the two Chapin teams are hosting. All others went on the road. 

Lexington’s boys are set for an away match at Blythewood this week. The Wildcats earned a spot in the third round after beating region rival Dutch Fork in the second round. 

River Bluff’s girls were also set to face Blythewood in the third round. The Gators entered their matchup after an impressive display last week. 

River Bluff started its postseason journey with a dominant 10-0 win at home against Rock Hill. Noemi Williams scored four of the team’s goals in that game. 

The Gators followed that game up with an upset victory on the road against region rival Lexington. The Wildcats had beaten the Gators twice already during the regular season, but River Bluff did not let that fact discourage them. 

After Lexington scored the game’s first goal, River Bluff took control and outscored the Wildcats 3-0 down the stretch. The team shut Lexington’s offense down and sent the Wildcats home. 

River Bluff's run continued in their game Tuesday night against Blythewood. The Gators upset the top-ranked Bengals and moved on to the state semifinal. 

Chapin’s boys and girls took advantage of a first-round bye and each only had to play one game last week. The girls defeated Berkeley 5-0, while the boys beat Socastee 8-0. 

Both teams will be at home for their third-round match. The girls defeated  Lucy Beckham on Tuesday. The boys are scheduled to play Myrtle Beach the next day. 

Gray Collegiate is seeking another shot at a state championship, this time in 4A. The War Eagles have had a great start to their playoff run, winning their first two games by shutout. 

The War Eagles played familiar faces in both matchups, hosting Gilbert in round one and Brookland-Cayce in round two. Gray won those games by a combined score of 9-0. 

Gray got its first test against a non-region team in the third round against May River. The winner of that game advances to the lower state championship game. 

Swansea’s boys earned two dominant wins in their first playoff games. The Tigers beat Aynor 6-0 before knocking off Battery Creek 4-1.

Swansea faced a huge hurdle in the next round with a game against Oceanside. The Landsharks are a formidable foe who have allowed just six goals all season. 

Oceanside did what they've done all season and shut Swansea out in a 6-0 win for the Landsharks.

Should Lexington County’s teams advance past the third round, they would then play in the upper and lower state championship games this Friday and Saturday. 

The soccer state championship games will be played the following week from May 22-24. 

Lexington County playoff schedule

5A Division I boys

Lexington at Blythewood - May 14 - Round three

Upper/Lower state championships - May 17

5A Division I girls

River Bluff: 4, Blythewood: 3 (PK) - Round three

Upper/Lower state championships - May 16

5A Division II boys

Chapin vs. Myrtle Beach - May 14 - Round three

Upper/Lower state championships - May 17

5A Division II girls

Chapin: 5, Lucy Beckham: 0 - Round three

Upper/Lower state championships - May 16

4A boys

Gray Collegiate vs. May River - May 14 - Round three

Upper/Lower state championships - May 17

3A boys

Oceanside: 6, Swansea: 0 - Round three

Last week’s playoff scores

5A Division I boys

Dorman: 2, River Bluff: 1 - Round one

Dutch Fork: 3, Rock Hill: 1 - Round one

Lexington: 3, Dutch Fork: 0 - Round two

5A Division I girls

River Bluff: 10, Rock Hill: 0 - Round one

Byrnes: 5, Dutch Fork: 1 - Round one

River Bluff: 3, Lexington: 1 - Round two

5A Division II boys

Myrtle Beach: 3, White Knoll: 1 - Round one

Irmo: 3, North Myrtle Beach: 2 - Round one

Chapin: 8 Socastee: 0 - Round two

St. James: 3, Irmo: 2 (PKs) - Round two

5A Division II girls

North Myrtle Beach: 5, White Knoll: 0 - Round one

Chapin: 5, Berkeley: 0 - Round two

4A boys

Gray Collegiate: 5, Gilbert: 0 - Round one

Brookland-Cayce: 8, Wilson: 0 - Round one

Gray Collegiate: 4, Brookland-Cayce: 0 - Round two

4A girls

Gilbert: 6, Darlington: 0 - Round one

May River: 12, Brookland-Cayce: 0 - Round one

Gray Collegiate: 6, Bluffton: 1 - Round one

Bishop England: 4, Gilbert: 0 - Round two

Hilton Head: 2, Gray Collegiate: 1, Round two

3A boys

Swansea: 6, Aynor: 0 - Round one

Swansea: 4. Battery Creek: 1 - Round two 

3A girls

Swansea: 19, Orangeburg-Wilkinson: 0 - Round one

Hanahan: 4, Swansea: 0 - Round two

2A boys

Landrum: 5, Pelion: 2 - Round one

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

Lake City: 6, Batesburg Leesville: 0 - Round two

2A girls

Dixie: 8, Batesburg-Leesville: 0 - Round one

Brashier: 3, American Leadership: 1 - Round one