By Thomas Grant Jr.
A new season, a different division and a number one preseason ranking.
All of those descriptions apply to the Chapin girls’ soccer team. A year after finishing state runner-up to Clover, the Lady Eagles will open the 2025 season atop the newly created S.C. High School Soccer Coaches Association’s Class 5A Division II poll.
The creation of two divisions in Class A puts Clover in Division I. Both Lexington and River Bluff are ranked fifth and seventh, respectively.
Lexington and Chapin will open the season in the Viking Cup at Spring Valley High School starting Feb. 27. The Lady Gators will play host to Nation Ford the same night in The Swamp.
On the boys’ side, Chapin is ranked fifth in Class 5A Division II and River Bluff sixth in Division I. Both teams are scheduled to compete in the Capital City Cup taking place Feb. 25 to March 2.
S.C. HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER COACHES
ASSOCIATION PRESEASON RANKINGS
GIRLS
Class 5A
(Division I)
1. Clover; 2. Mauldin; 3. JL Mann; 4. Wando; 5. Lexington; 6. West Ashley; 7. River Bluff; 8. James Island; 9. Blythewood; 10. Ashley Ridge
(Division II)
1. Chapin; 2. Eastside; 3. Lucy Beckham; 4. Catawba Ridge; 5. Riverside; 6. Nation Ford; 7. St. James; 8. Indian Land; 9. Fort Mill; 10. Greenville
Class 4A
1. Bishop England; 2. AC Flora; 3. Daniel; 4. May River; 5. Gray Collegiate; 6. Beaufort; 7. Dreher; 8. Gilbert; 9. South Aiken; 10. Hilton Head Island
Classes 2A/A
1. Academic Magnet; 2. Philip Simmons; 3. Bridges Prep; 4. York Prep; 5. Andrew Jackson; 6. Buford; 7. Mid-Carolina; 8. Ninety-Six; 9. Dixie; 10. Atlantic Collegiate
BOYS
Class 5A
(Division I)
1. JL Mann; 2. Ashley Ridge; 3. Clover; 4. Wando; 5. Riverside; 6. River Bluff; 7. Mauldin; 8. James Island; 9. Stratford; 10. Byrnes
(Division II)
1. Fort Mill; 2. Hillcrest; 3. Catawba Ridge; 4. Nation Ford; 5. Chapin; 6. Greenville; 7. Indian Land; 8. TL Hanna; 9. Easley; 10. Eastside
Class 4A
1. Daniel 2. Berea; 3. Gray Collegiate; 4. Bluffton; 5. North Augusta; 6. Bishop England; 7. May River; 8. AC Flora; 9. Hilton Head Island; 10. Greer
Class 3A
1. Oceanside Collegiate; 2. Powdersville; 3. Waccamaw; 4. St. Joseph’s; 5. Christ Church; 6. Southside Christian; 7. Hanahan; 8. Swansea; 9. Greer Middle College; 10. Chapman
Class 2A
1. Academic Magnet; 2. Atlantic Collegiate; 3. Greenville Tech; 4. Philip Simmons; 5. Andrew Jackson; 6. Bridges Prep; 7. Batesburg-Leesville; 8. American Leadership; 9. Edisto; 10. Columbia
Photo by Edward Walker – Chapin state runner-up – The Chapin girls soccer team after finishing state runner-up in the 2024 Class 5A final
