GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - All four local area high school soccer programs between Live Oak and Gridley High School made the Northern Section CIF playoffs and will compete in the Division II bracket. 

The Gridley boys soccer team was given the second seed in the Division II bracket as the Butte View League champions. 

Gridley junior Nolan Weagant leads the Bulldogs offensively with 32 goals, but is also the team leader in assists. Gridley hosted the winner of West Valley/Orland yesterday afternoon in the second round of the playoffs.

The Bulldogs beat West Valley 6-0 on Dec. 5, 2023, and swept Oroville by a combined 17-0 margin in the two BVL games this season.

Gridley junior striker Nolan Weagant (1) kicks the ball upfield after a free kick against Orland on February 1 in the Bulldogs’ 2-1 victory.

The Gridley girls soccer team made it to the playoffs as the ninth seed in the Division II bracket and had to travel to Lassen on Tuesday in the first-round matchup. 

The winner of that match traveled and played at Live Oak in the quarterfinals.

Gridley had a pair of senior strikers Rafaela Anguiano (24) and Janessa Delgado (14) who led the way in scoring. The Lady Bulldogs are searching for their first playoff victory in the MaxPreps era.

Gridley senior striker Rafaela Anguiniano (11) dribbles towards the goal against Corning on January 11 in the Lady Bulldogs’ 4-3 defeat.

The Live Oak boys soccer team clinched the third seed in the NS Division II bracket as we can only get a semifinal matchup between the Lions and Gridley for the only time this season as the two crosstown rivals will both be in the BVL next season. 

Live Oak finished second in the Sacramento Valley League this season behind Winters as the Lions had a couple late ties in the final two weeks of the regular season against Colusa and Pierce.

Live Oak hosted the winner of Corning/West Valley. Live Oak and Gridley met one another in the final of the NSCIF Division II bracket last season, which was a phenomenal game for both programs and the communities. 

Live Oak senior striker Esteban Alvarado shoots a shot against Pierce on January 18 in the Lions 2-1 victory.

If we’re lucky enough to see both teams battle one another for the first time this season, it would be in the semifinals next Tuesday, February 20, for a trip to the NSCIF Division II finals and bragging rights until both teams compete against one another in the BVL next season.

The Live Oak girls soccer team was given the first overall seed in the NSCIF Division II girls bracket as they finished the SVL with an undefeated 10-0 record and took the title for the first time since the 2019-20 season. 

The Lady Lions hosted the winner of Gridley/Lassen. Live Oak looks for redemption after they lost in the NS finals to University Prep (Redding) last season.

Everyone is aware of the dominant offensive weapons Live Oak has in junior striker/midfielder Johanna Petrone (48 goals, 24 assists) and senior midfielder/striker Mckayla Holmen (25 goals, 34 assists) based on their statistics.

What others aren’t aware of is the youth the Lady Lions have spread all over the field that is now experienced with getting a lot of game time run through the season. 

Live Oak’s scrappy and hard-nosed defense is headlined by senior defenders Maya Goodson and Maria Medina, who are capable of cleaning up any front line in the NS attempting to get through the Lady Lions defense.