As the Sierra Foothill League soccer season heads into its second half, a newcomer has joined the familiar duo at the top of the standings.

It is certainly no surprise to see unbeaten defending SFL champion Granite Bay perched atop the league with a perfect 7-0 mark, and it is equally predictable to have defending Sac-Joaquin Section champ Rocklin (5-1-1) as the Grizzlies’ primary challenger.

Rising from the ashes where it found itself just two seasons ago, Oakmont (4-2) has asserted itself into the mix and currently sits third in the league, a position that would put the Vikings into the playoffs for the first time in five years.

Granite Bay and Rocklin met for the second time this season on Tuesday afternoon in Granite Bay in what may have been the best chance for someone to topple the mighty Grizzlies before the playoffs arrive.

Rocklin’s first-year coach Grant Depue has another outstanding team that once again seems to have no one superstar. The team is led by striker Konner Rasmussen and midfielder Tyler Garrison, and gets a great defensive effort every night.

J.J. Barnette, Steven Cowan, Conor Delaney, and Mike Gutierrez anchor the Thunder back line.

The problem facing Granite Bay is summed up by coach Steve Fischer, who says that his biggest challenge is often finding enough playing time for all of his talented players. Nate Schorer, a veteran sweeper who reacts well in every situation, anchors the Granite Bay defense.

A young midfield contributes every day for the Grizzlies, but Granite Bay clearly gets its energy from the incredible speed with which a pair of seniors attack opposing defenses.

As dangerous as Chris Gaschen is, Ryan Hollingshead is just as hard to defend. Take the two together and add the speed and smarts of Connor Hallisey up top, and you have a lethal combination.

One year ago, Oakmont tied Rocklin twice, and posted a total of five ties in its 12 SFL games. This season, behind the scoring of Robert Work and Cole Alexander, the playmaking of Kody Duff, and the aggressiveness of Roy Pedro, the Vikings have found a way to turn many of those ties into wins.

Oakmont is still looking to get over the hump against Rocklin and Granite Bay, but it seems to have solved the rest of the league.It will certainly be an exciting three weeks as these three try to fend off the challenges that await in their quest to claim the three available SFL spots in the SJS Division II tournament.

The worst news of all for the rest of the SFL comes with a glance at the Oakmont and Granite Bay rosters. Work, Alexander, Duff, and Pedro are all juniors, and there is not a significant senior presence on Oakmont coach Mark Broers’ roster.

At Granite Bay, while Gaschen, Schorer and Hollingshead move on after this season, the Grizzlies get big contributions from a number of sophomores, and a pair of freshmen, Tyler Thompson and Cody Giddings are already making an impact at the varsity level.

The great news for local soccer fans is that the competition that is heating up as we move towards this year’s postseason should be even more intense next year.