Don't expect a lot of surprises in Region 4 soccer during the 2007 season. Everyone is pretty much used to seeing Mountain View and Lone Peak battling for the region championship with the other four teams jockeying for playoff spots.
It shouldn't change this season. The with the preseason wrapping up, the Bruins and the Knights have once again established themselves as the contenders in Utah County's 5A region.
Of those two teams, Mountain View seems to have the early inside track to the championship. With talented senior midfielder Dustin Graham setting the pace for the rest of the team, the Bruins have the upper hand in talent but will have their challenge in breaking in some young players and jelling.
Mountain View also returns Mike Chesler, one of the valley's better goalkeepers, but has four new starters on the back line. How the new-look defense turns out could be the biggest key. Like last year, the Bruins are expected to rely heavily on defense.
"We've got to keep our concentration," said Mountain View coach Mark Graham. "As we concentrate more we'll play harder, we'll transition better and we'll be better on restarts. Restarts were our weak area last year. We only gave up six goals last year and five of them were on restarts.
Lone Peak also has its share of new faces to break in, but the team has shown early signs of potential, especially with a 3-0 win at Timpview earlier this week.
Here's a closer look at how each of the teams in the region are shaping up, with a predicted region finish:
MOUNTAIN VIEW BRUINS
COACH: Mark Graham
2006 RECORD: 14-3-1, first in region, lost in quarterfinals of playoffs
KEY PLAYERS: Dustin Graham, midfielder; Mike Chesler, goalkeeper; Mike Moreno, forward.
OUTLOOK: The Bruins have all the talent they need to win the region and be competitive in the state tournament. Consistency will be the key to Mountain View's success, as well as making sure younger players can mix well with the veterans.
2007 PREDICTED FINISH: First
LONE PEAK KNIGHTS
COACH: Dave Woolley
2006 RECORD: 10-6-2, second in region, lost in quarterfinals of playoffs.
KEY PLAYERS: Nate Fonbuena, forward; Scott Wyman, defender; Brian Hale, goalkeeper
OUTLOOK: Lone Peak's defense is strong and should be tough to score on, but the Knights have struggled to score goals early in the season. If they can find a consistent offensive rhythm, they could turn into a very scary team.
2007 PREDICTED FINISH: Second
TIMPANOGOS TIMBERWOLVES
COACH: Natalyn Lewis
2006 RECORD: 5-12-0, fourth in region, lost in first round of playoffs
KEY PLAYERS: Christian Ledek, goalkeeper; Trevor Henderson, forward; Riley Hunsaker, midfielder
OUTLOOK: Timpanogos' best group of players is still a year or two away, but the team has the skill to compete with almost anyone. The T-Wolves will probably lose some games they should win, but should also surprise some opponents.
2007 PREDICTED FINISH: Third
SPANISH FORK DONS
COACH: Sara Atuaia
2006 RECORD: 8-9-0, third in region, lost in first round of playoffs
KEY PLAYERS: Garrett Johnson, forward; Matt Downing, midfielder; Leo Vargus, forward
OUTLOOK: Johnson and Vargus form a strong and skillful attacking front capable of scoring a lot of goals. If the Dons can tighten up their defense and midfield they could be a tough team to beat.
2007 PREDICTED FINISH: Fourth
PLEASANT GROVE VIKINGS
COACH: Erik Bayles
2006 RECORD: 6-10-0, fifth in region
KEY PLAYERS: Richard Crist, goalkeeper; Ben Gerun, forward; Mark Kennington, midfielder
OUTLOOK: The task for Pleasant Grove will be to win its home games, and try to pick up some victories on the road. The Vikings are more than capable of making the playoffs if they can gain some momentum early in region play.
2007 PREDICTED FINISH: Fifth
AMERICAN FORK CAVEMEN
COACH: Larkin Weyand
2006 RECORD: 2-13-0, sixth in region
KEY PLAYERS: Francisco Garay, midfielder; Tyrell Bowen, midfielder
OUTLOOK: Fans are used to seeing American Fork firmly occupying last place, but this should still be a much-improved Cavemen team. The squad has a goal to make the playoffs and has enough playmakers to make a push towards the tournament if they can patch some holes in the defense.
2007 PREDICTED FINISH: Sixth