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Soccer Bruins Take League Lead After Round One
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If Trans-Valley League soccer fans were waiting for the Oct. 4 showdown between unbeaten Riverbank and Hughson to answer questions about the true conference power, they will have to wait a little longer.

Both programs kept their varsity squads out of the loss column during a 1-1 deadlock at Hughson. Riverbank throttled Modesto Christian 12-0 two days later while Hughson (5-0-2) tied Orestimba 1-1, vaulting the Bruins (6-0-1) to the top of the TVL standings.

Hughson and Riverbank square off in Bruin territory for the final conference game of the season on Oct. 27.

The game will likely be key in deciding the seeds from the TVL into the Division V Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. And considering the competition, seeds will certainly be important.

Last year the Golden Empire League dominated the D-IV bracket with a 5-0 record against teams from other conferences. All three GEL teams made the semi-finals, including league champion Dixon, who beat Riverbank and GEL No. 3 Capital Christian in the section title game.

Capital Christian (5-0 GEL, 12-0-2 overall) has outscored opponents 55-3 this season, and is a likely favorite to claim the section banner this season.

Riverbank topped a No. 1 seed in last year's playoff bracket (MLL champ Bret Harte), and certainly can't be counted out either. The Bruins took a 1-0 lead on Hughson on Oct. 4 after a first-half score from Jonathan Solano. Rafael Ramirez made 13 big saves in the net, allowing just one second half score that tied the game.

On Oct. 6 Riverbank's entire roster got into the action during the blowout win over Modesto Christian. The scores came from 12 different players while Ramirez only had to make one save in the net.

Solano, Quintero Rodrigo, Ruben Lopez, Armando Rodriguez, Leonel Gondinez, Eric Hernandez, Daniel Ramos, Fernando Reyes, Christian Contreras, Martin Pantoja, Jose Vigil and Kenny Veliz all found the net during the scoring spree. Lopez (two assists), Rodriguez, Veliz, Hernandez, Enrique Vigil and Jesus Yepez all made assists during the win.