1999-2000 BOYS’ SOCCER PREVIEW / AT A GLANCE

* The Proven: Santa Margarita will be heavily favored to win its fourth consecutive Southern Section Division III title. The Eagles return six starters and nine lettermen and have one of the nation’s top seniors in midfielder Spencer George, who is being sought by UCLA and Stanford. Santa Margarita will be strong up front and in the midfield with George and All-Sea View League forwards Sebastian Galmarini and Jon Nebot and all-league midfielder Luke Boughen.

* The Promising: Capistrano Valley missed the playoffs for the first time in the last nine years, but that might be because the Cougars were simply too young. Coach Ron Willms started two freshmen and three sophomores.

* Preseason Top 10: 1. Santa Margarita--Time to try a different division?; 2. Mater Dei--Best team since 1996-97 title team; 3. Woodbridge--Warriors lose best two players but are still a threat to win third section title in five years; 4. Santa Ana--Midfield will have to carry Saints; 5. El Dorado--Golden Hawks feature county’s most electrifying player in Ignacio “Nacho” Cid; 6. Capistrano Valley--Willms will miss his South Coast League battles with Mater Dei; 7. Saddleback--Coach Mel Silva must replace five all-leaguers; 8. Irvine--Vaqueros should challenge Woodbridge for Sea View title if they can find a goalkeeper; 9. Servite--Friars return 12 lettermen; 10. Laguna Hills--Defense should be strong, but the Hawks must find more scorers.

* Key Dates: Feb. 16, 18, 22, 25, 29, March 4, Southern Section playoffs.

* League Favorites: Century--Orange; Empire--El Dorado; Freeway--Sonora; Garden Grove--Pacifica; Golden West--Santa Ana; Olympic--Orange Lutheran; Orange--Brea Olinda; Pacific Coast--Laguna Beach; Sea View--Woodbridge; Serra--Santa Margarita; South Coast--Capistrano Valley; Sunset--Esperanza.

* Fast Fact: Santa Margarita will compete in the Puma National Cup (Dec. 20-23) in Tampa, Fla., a 32-team tournament featuring some of the nation’s top teams.