On paper, Coppell's girls face the most difficult task of any of the five area teams in the UIL state soccer tournament.

Coppell (22-4-4) opens at 1 p.m. Friday against San Antonio Reagan (25-0-2), ranked No.1 nationally in one poll. If Coppell wins, waiting in the wings is the winner of the semifinal between Houston Clear Lake (22-0-4) and The Woodlands (26-1-3).

"We couldn't have played in another district that prepared us for this more than ours did," said coach Chris Stricker. "It will be a challenge, but this team has surprised me all year."

Coppell's girls have made one prior state tournament appearance, in 2002.

The tournament will be played Thursday-Saturday at Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex.

Boys teams from Mesquite Poteet and Mansfield Legacy and the girls team from Richardson Pearce are making their first state tournament appearance and will play Class 4A semifinals Thursday.

Legacy (22-7-2) will face Poteet (21-4-3) at 4 p.m. following the Pearce (24-1-2)-Boerne Champion (16-2-7) girls semifinal.

In the first Class 5A boys semifinal, Plano (23-3-5), meets Katy (17-3-5) at 4 p.m. Friday.