It was only a year ago that the Layton boys' soccer team was on the cusp of its first title since 2003, facing Brighton under Rio Tinto Stadium's lights in the 5A state finals.

After the 4-0 stomping the Bengals dropped on the Lancers, Layton is ready to make 2010 a statement season. Coach Rick Talamantez eagerly hopes his team can come out storming and fully expects the Lancers' players to make a statement.

"We want to go in to the season knowing that we didn't finish finals," Talamantez said. "We want to show people that we're legit out there and hopefully we can make another run."

With players ranging from consistent returning starters like Kyle Blanchard and Adam Evans to quickly maturing studs like ninth-grader Nick Thiros, Talamantez sees this team's success resting on its execution.

"I do believe this team can make into far into the playoffs, if not the finals again." Talamantez said. "If we have the right attitude and stay positive, we'll go deep."

Woods Cross

Woods Cross and Layton shared an identical fate in 2009, with the Wildcats losing out in the 4A state finals to Mountain View, 3-1.

The Wildcats will bring back six senior starters and have young players who are trying to squeeze in time, so coach Kevin Rigby isn't too concerned about re-creating last year's success.

"We have a good group of young players trying to step up so we should have an interesting season. With a few exceptions, we're completely intact from last year," Rigby said.

The Wildcats boast a medley of starters and up-and-comers ready to mix up the title chase. Ryan Checketts and Zach Cope round out a group of nine seniors that return from last year's squad.

On the younger side, Rigby sees his junior Carson Elliott as one of the best goalkeepers in the entire state, regardless of classification. Rigby's also excited to get back junior Luis Calquin, who played a pivotal role in the Wildcats' offense down the stretch last year before suffering a heartbreaking knee injury the night before their loss to Mountain View.

The big issue for the Wildcats will be their Region 6 competition, with only four spots available in the talent-laden division. Wood Cross and coach Rigby will be tested every game, but after 33 straight years of making the tournament during his tenure, he doesn't see the streak snapping with this group.

"We have to take in such a great region, so it's a fight for your life from the start in Region 6. Pretty much every game is for the cup," Rigby said. "We're pretty much a fixture [at state] and we would like to keep it that way."

Northridge

After a 2-12-1 season in 2009, the Northridge Knights are off to a rough start this year.

Northridge, along with the rest of nine-team Region 1, will have to jump into the region schedule a week after tryouts, something coach Richard Callister is less than ecstatic over.

"We're feeling pretty nervous cause we have a huge disadvantage in our region," Callister said. "We could get at least one week of preseason."

Callister made sure that the Knights had some semblance of a preseason going into region, squeezing in the Ice Breaker Tournament in St. George before the regular season kicked off.

The Knights went on to finish 5-0 and won the tournament, and although his team may have been a "hodge-podge group of kids," they finally figured out the right equation to success, Callister said.

"If we can communicate and work well, get a little bit of hustle and a lot of heart mixed with some chemistry, we'll be good, win or lose," Callister said.