Mid–May is a highly–awaited time for the state’s highest rated high school soccer teams. It is the weekend for the state title clashes.

The SC Independent Schools Association (SCISA) state championship matches are scheduled for May 14 at Porter–Gaud in Charleston. The SC High School League (SCHSL) finals will be played Friday and Saturday, May 13–14 at USC’s Eugene E. Stone III Stadium.

In the latest SC High School Soccer Assn. standings, the Brookland–Cayce girls have finally reached No. 1 in the SCHSL rankings after being posted second all season. The Lady Bearcats of Brookland– Cayce (12–3) pulled ahead of Greenville (10–2).

The Cardinal Newman girls have slipped to second place in their Class AAA standings by giving way to St. Joseph’s (Greenville) this past week and slipping a notch in the SCISA poll.

Otherwise, things are about the same in the boys’ AAAA, with Northwestern (16–0) leading the pack and South Aiken and Wando second and third. Number four Irmo (12–2) and number five Dutch Fork (12–4–1) are the two highest ranked teams from the Columbia area. Spring Valley (12–6–1) and Ridge View (11–7) remain in the top 15.

In Class AAAA girls’ play, Fort Mill (16–1) is at the top. Richland Northeast’s girls (9–1–1) entered the week in sixth place. Irmo (9–3), Spring Valley (8–7), and Lexington (10–4) held Nos. 8, 9 and 10 in that order.

Eastside of Greenville tops the boys’ Class AAA at 9–2, followed by Greenville’s J.L. Mann, Socastee, North Myrtle Beach, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach. Brookland–Cayce (9–7–1) is the highest rated team from the area in that category. Just out of the top 10 are Chapin, Dreher, and A.C. Flora.

The Cardinal Newman boys (8–3–1) continue to hold top spot in SCISA with Ben Lippen (11–4) in second spot. Hammond and Heathwood Hall are listed in fifth and sixth spots respectively.

More information regarding prep soccer may be found on the web at www.scsoccer.com.