Draper APA's girls soccer program is listed in Class 2A for the 2026 season after competing in 3A last year, a shift that places the Eagles in a 12-team 2A North region headlined by defending state champion Waterford.

Fifth-year head coach Josh Lockwood's squad finished 9-8 in 2025 and earned a playoff berth before falling to Beaver, 4-2, in the 3A second round. The Eagles averaged 3.1 goals per game on offense and allowed 1.9 per game on defense, both ranking ninth in 3A.

Now in 2A, Draper APA lands eighth in the 2A North preseason coaches' poll, the lowest spot among the region's 12 teams. Waterford, which finished 18-1 and beat American Heritage in penalty kicks to win the 2A title in 2025, sits atop those projections.

Freshman additions at midfield

Lockwood listed two freshman midfielders as key newcomers for 2026: Julia Hagopian and Erica Pereira. No returning contributors were named in the team's preseason capsule submitted to the Deseret News, leaving the full roster picture unclear heading into August.

Lockwood told the Deseret News the team's primary focus is player development, emphasizing "technical growth, tactical understanding, and decision-making skills to help players become more complete athletes on and off the field."

What the classification change means

The move from 3A to 2A reshapes the Eagles' competitive field. Instead of facing the programs they matched up against in 2025, Draper APA will navigate a region that includes Waterford, American Heritage, Maeser Prep, Rowland Hall, South Summit, and six other programs.

The Eagles' 2025 RPI ranking of ninth in 3A and their second-round playoff exit suggest a team on the fringe of contention at the higher classification. How that translates against 2A competition will become clear once the season begins.

Season opener

The Eagles open the 2026 campaign on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 4 p.m. with a road match against the San Juan Broncos, according to the Deseret News schedule page. Utah's high school girls soccer season begins the week of Monday, Aug. 3, but Draper APA's first contest comes more than a week into the statewide schedule.