Which regions are most challenging in Texas boys, girls soccer playoffs?

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Playoffs begin in Texas with bi-district matches on Thursday and Friday for UIL girls and boys soccer teams.

Every team that advances to the single-elimination tournament has as its ultimate goal a berth in the state final four set for April 12-15 at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown. That's where state champions will be crowned in three classifications.

But to get there, the eventual champs must negotiate several rounds of win-or-go-home matches.

As in all other UIL sports, the competition is broken down into four regions.

Here's a breakdown of the most difficult regions, based on MaxPreps rankings at the conclusion of the regular season.

Note: TAPPS crowned its soccer state champions earlier this month. Congratulations to girls winners Ursuline Academy (Dallas) in Division I, Grapevine Faith Christian (Grapevine) in DII and Veritas Academy (Austin) in DIII. Boys champions were Central Catholic (San Antonio) in DI, TMI-Episcopal (San Antonio) in DII and British (Houston) in DIII.

GIRLS
Class 6A: Top-ranked Carroll (Southlake) with its record of 16-1-2 is in Region I along with No. 5 Keller (16-2-2), No. 7 Marcus (Flower Mound) and No. 8 Plano. Marcus is 11-2-2 and Plano is 14-1-3. Region II also has four teams ranked in the top 10, No. 2 The Woodlands (18-1-1), No. 4 Klein (14-2-1), No. 6 Coppell (18-0-1) and No. 10 Sachse (22-1). Region III is represented by No. 3 Cinco Ranch (Katy) (19-0-4). Vandegrift (Austin) is in Region IV and is No. 9 with a 14-1-4 mark.

Class 5A: Region II dominates this classification with eight of the state's top 10 sides. Heading the list is No. 1 Highland Park (Dallas) with its 20-0-0 record. Four Frisco schools are ranked, No. 2 Centennial (Frisco) (11-2-1), No. 4 Wakeland (Frisco) (9-3-2), No. 5 Lone Star (Frisco) (15-4-1) and No. 7 Heritage (Frisco) (9-4-3). Centennial is the defending state champion. Other ranked Region II teams include No. 3 Prosper (23-0-0), No. 8 Joshua (18-1-1) and No. 9 Poteet (Mesquite) 9-3-1. Region I accounts for the other two top-10 teams, No. 6 Monterey (Lubbock) (22-0-1) and No. 10 Denton (17-1-2).

Class 4A: No. 1 ranked Wylie (Abilene) is 17-2-2 and calls Region I home. But four other ranked teams are also in Region I: No. 2 Kennedale (17-0-1), the state champion each of the last two seasons, No. 3 Melissa (10-3-1), No. 6 Stephenville (18-4-0) and No. 7 Argyle (16-2-4). Region III is represented by No. 4 Jasper (19-1) and No. 10 Bellville (17-0-1). Region IV has two top-10 clubs, No. 5 Boerne (15-2-1) and No. 9 Wimberley (15-3-2). The only Region II team is No. 8 Princeton (15-6). BOYS
Class 6A: Strake Jesuit (Houston) is the top-ranked team in the state's largest classification with a 17-0-3 record. That powerhouse is joined by three fellow Region III representatives, No. 4 Alief Elsik (Houston) (18-1-1), No. 5 Cypress Lakes (Katy) (17-2-2) and No. 7 North Shore (Houston) (17-0-3). Region I also has four in the top 10, No. 3 Hebron (Carrollton) (13-2-2), No. 6 Marcus (Flower Mound) (13-4-1), No. 8 Sam Houston (Arlington) (16-2-1) and No. 10 Montwood (El Paso) (18-2-0). Defending state champion Coppell (15-2-1) is No. 9 and in Region II along with No. 2 The Woodlands (16-2-0).

Class 5A: Valley View (Pharr) from Region IV with its lofty 19-1-0 record is the top-ranked team in this classification. Also ranked from the same region are No. 7 Marble Falls (18-1-6) and No. 10 Alamo Heights (San Antonio) (14-3-5). Four teams are from Region II, No. 2 Waxahachie (16-1-4), No. 3 Wakeland (Frisco) (14-4-0), Turner (Carrollton) (10-1-2) and Mt. Pleasant (16-1-5). El Paso entries account for three Region I teams in the ranking, No. 5 Del Valle (El Paso) (15-3-1), No. 8 Eastlake (El Paso) (12-3-1) and No. 9 Bel Air (El Paso) (12-3-1).

Class 4A: Defending state champion Palestine is ranked No. 1 with a 22-1-1 record and is one of four teams in the top 10 from Region II. The others are No. 2 Terrell (19-0-4), No. 3 Ranchview (Irving) (15-1-1) and No. 10 Kilgore (14-5-2). Region III has three representatives, No. 5. Hudson (Lufkin) (16-2-3), No. 6 Madisonville (16-2-2) and No. 9 Center (11-4-3). Region IV has No. 4 Salado (20-1) and No. 7 Progreso (9-5-1). Rounding out the top 10 from Region I is No. 8 Life Oak Cliff (Dallas) (16-4).