With one goal in mind

Northern Section boys soccer is heating up, and the 2008-09 storylines are endless.

Pierce High is attempting to capture its third consecutive section title and its fifth in eight years, Live Oak seeks to defend its first ever and Williams looks to breakthrough in a league turned upside down.

The Sacramento Valley League has gone from one of the lighter leagues, consisting of just five teams in 2007-08, to one of the most competitive.

The Greater Valley Mountain League has merged with the SVL, locking two section champs, and two other teams on the cusp, in a nine-school league.

And while no one is looking past the 12-4-5 Lions of last year, the Division II section title defenders lost nine players to graduation and return just four seniors this season.

"We're obviously young, but that's just high school." said Live Oak coach Mike Owen about losing a good portion of his starters from last season. "We still have high expectations."

With one of the top goalkeepers around in senior Luis Ramirez, a top senior midfielder in Raul Diaz and a handful of youngsters competing for playing time, including sophomore Hector Cibrian and junior Aduaro Aceves, Live Oak (4-2-1) is still a dangerous team.

Just getting through the SVL would be an accomplishment in its own, however.

Pierce, which finished 14-1-2 last year, is primed for another section championship run, but this time it must do it in Division II, rather than Division III.

The Bears lost just four seniors to graduation and return a total of 12 players, including seniors Luis Navarro and Eduardo Navarro, and juniors Angel Magallon, Rogelio Melendrez and Jose Navarro, who have already made a big impact this season.

Pierce (3-0-1) will have a difficult time holding off Williams (3-0-2) — in league, that is.

The Yellowjackets came up short last season when they finished 10-5-1, but have increased their depth and return all but six players, including one of the top goal scorers in the Mid-Valley.

In just five games, Humberto Guzman has already netted eight goals, while teammate Octavio Cambreros has tacked on four, giving Williams a real opportunity to capture a Division III section title.

Williams has already tied Pierce 3-3 earlier this season, while Esparto is also in the mix to make some noise in the league.

Just trying to improve off last year's 2-15-1 record, Colusa returns a young team in the SVL, with 11 freshman or sophomores to just four seniors on the roster.

But the Redskins also have junior Luis Benitez, who already has eight goals this season, and senior sweeper Hershey Padraza to provide some leadership.

In the Butte View League, one team is rebuilding, another is trying to scratch the surface and Gridley ... well, the Bulldogs are aiming for the top.

A reloaded Gridley team (5-3-1) is on pace to make a serious run at a section title — even if it doesn't win the BVL. The Bulldogs have already fallen to BVL opponents Corning and Las Plumas, but 12 returners, including senior goalkeeper Ivan Martinez and a stellar backline, make the Bulldogs the favorite to take home a Division II section title.

The Bulldogs, who finished (15-4-6) last year, are deep throughout the field and are led by Jose Alvarez, Miguel Gonzalez, Agustin Alvarez, Carlos Alejo, Victor Palafox and sophomore Cali Garcia up front, while Hector Sanchez, Keenan Emmitt, Marko Campos and Jose Hernandez are standouts on the backline.

"If we have any weakness, it's that we have too many starting caliber players, who can't get enough playing time to find that cohesiveness," said Gridley head coach Jesse Barajas. "I think the competitiveness of our league fares well for us and sets us up better in the playoffs."

In that league is an up-and-coming Wheatland team (1-2-1) and a Sutter team which appears to be rebuilding.

Wheatland, which finished 9-8-6 last season, returns nine players, five of which are primed to return next season. The Pirates carry 11 underclassmen on the roster.

And there's no doubting the talent of sophomore standout Jessy Vega. The striker has 10 goals in just four games, while Luke and Tim Hollingworth provide senior leadership from the midfield.

After having so much success last year, Sutter, which ended its season 18-5-2, has opened the '08 campaign in a disappointing fashion at 2-6.

The senior-laden Huskies — 16 on the roster — are led by captains Casey Foster, Jesus Flores and Garrett Hanes, as well as seniors Jamie Lemere and Nathaniel Tomm.