By Michael Adams
madams@onthesidelinessports.com

The UIL girls soccer playoffs begin Monday and Tuesday with bi-district playoffs. District 26-5A will sort out its playoff picture on Friday and depends on the outcomes of a pair of games, Lake Travis-Akins and Bowie-Anderson. If Anderson defeats Bowie, the Lady Trojans will be the district champion and Buda Johnson will claim the final playoff spot. Lake Travis will move into second place with a win over Akins.

More soccer playoff coverage

• 2024 boys soccer playoff preview
• 2024 girls soccer bi-district schedule
• 2024 boys soccer bi-district schedule

Here is a look ahead at the upcoming girls high school soccer playoff with teams to watch, storylines and predictions.

5 Teams to watch

Round Rock

Round Rock is the favorite in Region IV, but there’s a few teams that might take exception to that. One of them is last year’s regional champion, Westwood. The bracket is laid out perfectly for a potential Round Rock-Westwood regional final. The Lady Dragons (16-0-4) have a much easier path to the regional tournament than their District 25-6A counterparts, but it still goes through the District 26-6A champion, which will likely be Anderson.

Westwood

The Lady Warriors (14-2-4) were last year’s Cinderella, reaching the state tournament despite  finishing fourth in 25-6A. Westwood’s path to return to the state tournament will have a few hurdles, one of them could be a potential meeting with Lake Travis in the regional quarterfinals, should the Lady Cavs finish second in 26-6A. Another could be San Antonio Johnson in the area round. If Westwood gets through that gauntlet, Round Rock should be waiting in the regional finals.

Georgetown

If the Lady Eagles (19-1-3) are to return to the Class 5A state tournament, it’s going to get bumpy along the way. Region III has several contenders, and a few sleepers. For Georgetown, its biggest roadblock will come in the regional quarterfinals with a potential matchup against McCallum (sleeper) or Magnolia (contender). If the Lady Eagles break through that roadblock, Barbers Hill (contender) will likely be waiting in the regional semifinals.

Leander

The Lady Lions (18-1-4) have the luck of the draw on their side and is a favorite to make it out of Region IV. Leander will have to get through a tough Boerne Champion team in the first round and likely San Antonio Pieper in the regional quarterfinals to reach the regional tournament. However, the momentum built toward the regional tournament should be enough to get the Lady Lions to the state tournament.

Giddings

The Lady Buffaloes (17-0-3) are one of the favorites in Region III-4A and has one of the more potent offenses in Class 4A. Giddings won District 22-4A with ease, scoring 94 goals while not allowing a single goal against. In fact, Gidding’s 124 total goals for the season ranks the Lady Buffaloes at No. 1 in Region III for goals scored and No. 11 among all of Class 4A. Giddings will have to get through a talented Sealy team and last year’s regional champion, Lumberton, to get to the state tournament.

Storylines

Can an Austin school stop Dallas’ dominance in state championship games?

The Dallas area has made it a habit of wining state championships. Last year, Flower Mound Marcus, Grapevine and Celina took home state titles in each of their respective classes. In 2021 it was Southlake Carroll, Frisco Wakeland and Celina that took home the crowns.

Southlake Carroll and Frisco Wakeland are heavy favorites in Class 6A and Class 5A, respectively. Celina won back-to-back 4A titles the past two years but might be the most vulnerable of the Dallas contenders. Giddings is the real threat to ending the Dallas-area’s dominance.

What Austin area schools have a shot at making the state tournament?

Round Rock and Westwood are real threats in Class 6A to make the state tournament. The Lady Dragons have never made it to the state tournament. However, there’s always a sleeper team that gets hot and pulls off a few upsets. Just ask Westwood.

In Class 5A, Leander has a good chance to make it out of Region IV and has a much easier path than other 25-5A teams. Georgetown is the favorite in Region III, but the road back to Birkelbach Stadium won’t be easy.

Giddings should make it out of Region III in Class 4A and is the Austin area’s best chance at winning a state championship.

Who’s going to be the sleeper teams?

Last year, Westwood grabbed momentum and made it all the way to the state tournament after finishing fourth in District 25-6A. There’s always one team that gets hot at the right time and there’s a few to keep an eye on.

One of them is Lake Travis. The Lady Cavaliers are playing really good soccer in recent weeks and gaining momentum heading into the playoffs. No one should sleep on Lake Travis, who is a real threat in Region IV.

Rouse in Class 5A is another sleeper team that with the right momentum could make a deep run and pull off a few upsets, and they will need to. The Lady Raiders (15-4-3) flexed their muscles on Thursday in a 6-1 win over McCallum in a playoff warmup match. The road, however, is going to be a difficult one. Rouse’s side of the bracket is loaded and includes its first-round opponent New Braunfels Canyon along with potential regional quarterfinal opponents Alamo Heights, Smithson Valley and District 25-5A rival Cedar Park.

Predictions

Class 6A

Region II final: Wylie East over Rockwall

Region IV final: Round Rock over Westwood

State championship game: Southlake Carroll over Fort Bend Ridge Point

Class 5A

Region III final: Georgetown over A&M Consolidated

Region IV final: Leander over Smithson Valley

State championship game: Frisco Wakeland over Georgetown

Class 4A

Region III final: Giddings over Lumberton

Region IV final: Davenport over Boerne

State championship game: Giddings over Celina