If regional rankings, team expectations and a flying start were reliable indicators of a good season, then 2007 will be the Gators' year.

But as college sports fans well know, they're not — especially considering the competitiveness of the Gators’ conference.

SF State's men's soccer team is this week preparing for its first California Collegiate Athletic Association conference match of 2007, a road game at Cal State Stanislaus on Sept. 7.

The Gators open their conference season ranked fifth in the region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) – an independent rating system separate from official rankings – but must make the top four in the final CCAA standings to have a shot at the playoffs, something they have yet to achieve under current coach Joe Hunter.

“It's a very, very strong conference, not only as a conference, but in the region itself,” said Hunter, who believes the CCAA is among the top three conferences in the country. “We've got to finish in the top four. That's the bottom line.”

Hunter's best seasons to date were 1997 and 2005, when at both times he finished 10-9-1, but he has yet to take the Gators into postseason play after nine years as head coach.

Last year there were signs of improvement following wins against three nationally ranked teams, but the Gators finished 4-8-4 in the conference, leaving them in fifth place (out of six teams) in the North Division and five wins away from a playoff berth.

“[Last year] we didn't have our best games when playing teams equal or below us, and that was just a little bit of youthful immaturity,” Hunter said. “This year all those teams have gotten better, and the bottom is coming up. The teams at the top know there are a lot of guys nipping at their heels, and that's going to make it tough.”

This newfound parity in CCAA men's soccer promises a compelling season ahead, something Conference Commissioner Bob Hiegert said should benefit teams like SF State.

“[The Gators] have got off to a great start, and it's always good to get off to a great start as the CCAA is a very competitive conference,” Hiegert said. “San Francisco has a strong program and improved a great deal over last year, and should be in the race with [Cal State] Stanislaus and Sonoma [State] for the North title.”

Also sharing Hiegert’s belief in Gator postseason soccer is sophomore midfielder Wes Whitt.

“Picking up wins is all I care about because it gets us that little bit closer to the playoffs,” Whitt said, following his team’s 3-2 defeat of Hawaii-Hilo in the season opener.

After launching their 2007 season with a 3-1 record (non-conference), the Gators are looking markedly tighter and more organized on the field. With the addition of some talented freshmen and an experienced assistant coach, as well as the return of an established team core, they may live up to some lofty expectations.