Of the eight District 33-4A soccer programs opening postseason play early next week, more than one expected to be starting up a push toward a possible state title.

There are two that certainly weren’t in that camp just a few months ago.

While teams like the University boys and the Midway girls are more than familiar with the harsh glare of playoff soccer, the La Vega boys and the University girls are making their first playoff appearances in their respective program histories.

Due to a wrinkle in league scheduling, District 33-4A has no bi-district round counterpart, meaning all eight teams get an automatic pass into the area round. All but one of those games will take place Tuesday. The University boys’ team plays Monday to accomodate coach Mike Chapman’s need to coach the girls’ team the next day.

It’s an arrangement that could end next season, but for now it means one less step on the road to playoff glory.

“That’s key,” La Vega coach Paul Deleon said. “That’s what I told them, is ‘Guys, if we (make the playoffs), you’re bi-district champions. You have a week off, you get a whole week to rest.’ ”

Elsewhere on the boys’ side, proceedings were unsurprisingly dominated by Class 4A competition. University wrapped up the district title on the last day of the regular season with a shootout victory over Waco High, which settled for the No. 3 seed after the loss. That allowed Midway to climb up to No. 2, while La Vega snapped up the No. 4 seed and the first playoff appearance in the program’s history.

Should each team win, La Vega and Midway would meet in one sectional matchup while Waco High and University would square off in another.

On the girls’ side, Midway sucked the drama out of a one-sided title race weeks before the season ended and locked up the top spot. The more intriguing battles have been for the other three playoff spots.

University made its run at the right time but lost to No. 2-seeded Robinson, 3-2, on the second-to-last day of the regular season to lose out on the second seed and settle for No. 3 despite sharing an 8-4 district mark.

Meanwhile, Robinson wrapped up its regular season with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Lorena to clinch its spot behind Midway.

Waco High locked up the fourth playoff spot by going 4-2 over the stretch run and edging out Lorena and razor-sharp goal-scoring threat Brianna Johnston, who led all area girls in goals this year with 29.

Getting hot at the right time is a must, and eight area coaches will test their team’s mettle soon enough.

“Playing well and winning that first or second game, I think that’s important,” Midway coach Tim O’Leary said. “That’s how high school sports are.”

Lorena players commit

Lorena football players Evan Ward and Josh Holt committed to the Mary Hardin-Baylor football team this week.

Ward, a running back, accounted for nearly 2,400 all-purpose yards during his senior season and was named the 2009 Super Centex Offensive Player of the Year.

Holt is a 280-pound offensive lineman who was named first-team Super Centex last season.

Baseball clinic

The Central Texas Baseball Coaches Association is hosting a coaching clinic for little league coaches from 3 to 5 p.m. March 28 at Waco Veterans Field.

The cost is $10 per person and includes comprehensive instruction for coaches.

Track StatsPlus

Area track coaches are asked to submit season bests to the Tribune-Herald .

Marks may be e-mailed to jbarnes@wacotrib.com or faxed to (254) 756-7803.

wparchman@wacotrib.com

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