Six Austin-area high school soccer teams hope this week ends with a state championship

The Austin-area high school soccer scene has flexed some muscle this postseason. At the UIL state tournament that runs through Saturday at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown, a record six Central Texas schools are part of the field chasing the ultimate prize.

Vandegrift’s boys and Westlake’s girls carry the area’s torch in Class 6A, while the Glenn boys, Hendrickson girls and Rouse girls make up the local sides in 5A. And Salado's girls made the Class 4A field.

Here’s what you need to know going into the start of the Class 5A tournament Thursday and the Class 6A bracket Friday:

Austin area's best chance at a state title?

The Vandegrift boys.

The Vipers are solid all around with future college players — and maybe a possible pro — up and down the roster. Seniors Emmy Aranda and Yandel Andrade are legit stars and sophomore Luke Hawley could be the area’s next big thing.

More: 30 Austin-area soccer players having breakout seasons

Vandegrift is also in good shape if it goes to a shootout with goalkeeper Charlie Reed, who's in his first year playing in high school after being part of the Austin FC academy. He'll play at Clemson in the fall, as one of the top players at the position in the state.

And while every Austin-area school has a brutal draw, the four Class 6A boys teams all have similar records.

Five Austin-area players to watch at state

∙ Tito Don Juan, Glenn: A dynamic player, the midfielder has eye-popping numbers of 25 goals and 23 assists and is a big reason the Grizzlies are undefeated at 29-0-1.

∙ Kaylee McKinley, Hendrickson: Has tallied an impressive 25 goals on the season, including two in the regional finals during a 3-2 win over Georgetown.

∙ Kylie Snell, Rouse: With 15 goals and 21 assists, Snell is always around the ball and playing a part in the Raiders’ offense. But the Raiders also have three other players who have scored 15 goals in Lilly Arellano, Jessica Aldrich and Mia Merz.

∙ Rory Jacops, Vandegrift: As steady as they come at center back, he leads a Vipers back line that gives up well under a goal per game.

∙ Kate Grannis, Westlake: The senior forward is a threat up top every time she touches the ball and scored the Chaps’ game-winning goal in the regional final.

Area coaches: five newcomers at state

Westlake's Darci Carruthers is the only one among the six Austin-area coaches who has been to the state tournament before. She led the Chaps to an appearance in 2022.

Glenn’s Marcus Edmondson has guided the Grizzlies to state for the first time in the school’s short history, while Rouse’s Corey Elrod has the Raiders at state for the second time as a program following an appearance in 2017. Hendrickson’s Kevin McKinley has the Hawks back at state for the first time since they won Class 6A in 2017, while Vandegrift third-year coach Jonathan Winship leads the Vipers to state for the first time in program history.

The rest of the field: Class 5A is loaded

Both of the girls' teams for Hendrickson and Rouse play Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex opponents in Colleyville Heritage and Frisco Wakeland that are both undefeated.

If the Austin-area schools advance, it would be the first state final between two local schools in state soccer tournament history.

Meanwhile, the Glenn boys play Frisco Wakeland, which has five losses but is traditionally one of the better programs in the state. The winner takes on Midlothian or Baytown Goose Creek Memorial.

More: Six Austin-area soccer teams advance to the state tournament, most ever for Central Texas

In Class 6A, the Westlake girls play Rockwall, with the other side of the bracket featuring Prosper and Katy Seven Lakes.

Vandegrift and its opponent Lewisville Flower Mound have identical 22-2-2 records, with the other side of the boys' bracket featuring defending state champion Katy Seven Lakes and Prosper.

The Austin area has a strong recent history, with the Dripping Springs boys being the Class 6A runner-up last year and the Lake Travis boys winning Class 6A in 2022. The Dripping Springs girls won Class 5A in 2021.

UIL state soccer tournament

Through Saturday, Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex. Tickets — $35 all-tournament, $15 single game

Wednesday: Class 4A girls semifinals — Celina vs. Lumberton, 11 a.m.; Salado vs. Boerne, 1:30 p.m.; Class 4A boys semifinals — Boerne vs. Kilgore, 4 p.m.; Navasota vs. San Elizario, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday: Class 5A girls semifinals — Colleyville Heritage vs. Hendrickson, 9:30 a.m.; Frisco Wakeland vs. Rouse, noon; Class 4A girls final — 2:30 p.m.; Class 5A boys semifinals — Glenn vs. Frisco Wakeland, 5 p.m.; Midlothian vs. Baytown Goose Creek Memorial, 7:30 p.m.

Friday: Class 6A girls semifinals — Rockwall vs. Westlake, 9:30 a.m.; Prosper vs. Katy Seven Lakes, noon; Class 4A boys final — 2:30 p.m.; Class 6A boys semifinals — Katy Seven Lakes vs. Duncanville, 5 p.m.; Vandegrift vs. Lewisville Flower Mound, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday's finals — Class 5A girls, 11 a.m.; Class 5A boys, 1:30 p.m.; Class 6A girls, 4 p.m.; Class 6A boys, 6:30 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin-area schools hope UIL playoff soccer runs end with state titles