With the Olympics recently bringing national sports to the spotlight, it's a reminder that the World Cup is right around the corner.
 However, before the players of the world take to the pitch in June, there's plenty of opportunity to watch soccer in Rockdale and at high schools around Georgia as the 2010 prep season just got under way.
 Rockdale, Heritage and Salem's boys' soccer teams are all looking for strong seasons and have fared well up to this point in the early going.
 The Bulldogs have begun the season 4-0, while Heritage is also unbeaten so far in 2010, going 3-1-0. Salem has just two matches under its belt, falling to the No. 6 ranked team in the state and then playing to a draw in its second.
 The Seminoles were held to one goal in an 8-1 loss to Eurosport's No. 6 ranked Habersham last Saturday, after tying Ola High, 1-1, in the season opener on Feb. 19.
 Rockdale has put together a high-scoring ledger so far, connecting on 19 goals in four matches.
 The Bulldogs kicked things off with a 4-1 victory over Eastside on Feb. 19, in which Brandon Story netted two goals. Mauricio Reyes leads the team so far with six goals and Story has five.
 Reyes got on the board with two scores in a 4-1 win over Madison, and netted two more in an 8-0 rout of Alcovy. Orlando Duggan, who has been strong so far in net for the Bulldogs, got his first shutout of the season, behind the scoring of Reyes, Smith (two goals) and Story (two goals).
 Reyes was also the difference in the Bulldogs, most recent match, a 3-1 win over Cedar Shoals, with two more goals.
 The Heritage Patriots came into the season, having just missed on 2009's region championship, but are also returning just half of that starting 11.
 The Patriots opened the season with a 6-0 shutout of Eagles Landing on Feb. 19, displaying an almost entirely new backfield, including a first-year starter at goalkeeper.
 "We have a few key players from last year moving to some of the vacated spots and the transitions are going well," Heritage coach Brandon Stewart said. "We have Brad Saindon in goal, who has been the backup keeper the past two years and is ready to step in full time as a starter this year."
 Heritage followed up the shutout with a 1-1 tie against Grayson on Feb. 23, before blanking Madison 4-0 on Feb. 26. The Patriots then beat region foe Clarke Central 2-1 in their most recent match.
 The Patriots have taken to their new roles well and hope that an offseason of hard training will add up to continued success in the playoffs.
 "We expect to be the front runner for the county cup and challenge for the region crown this year," Stewart said. "We have a tougher schedule this year in hopes to better prepare for the playoff atmosphere."