We are at approximately the midway point of the soccer season and the picture is starting to get a little clearer in the Southern Connecticut Conference.

Hand can make its claim as the best team in the league after beating Fairfield Prep 1-0 at home Monday, then blitzing Guilford 5-1. The Tigers are certainly the best team in the SCC Hammonasset.

Cheshire has taken a step back from last season, making the SCC Housatonic very tough to call at this point. Shelton is the only unbeaten team in the division. Amity lost to the Gaels, but not to anyone else and looks to be the most improved team in the league. Cheshire and Sheehan make this a four-team race.

Prep bounced back off its first loss by handing Xavier its first loss. The SCC Quinnipiac will be decided between these two teams.

Branford is the only undefeated team in the Oronoque Division after beating North Haven Wednesday. Those two teams willd ecide this division as well.

In girls play, Hand won round one over Guilford last Saturday. Still, it will come down to the two teams' next matchup that decides the SCC Hammonasset Division.

The trio of Cheshire and Shelton played to a scoreless tie last Saturday and both beat Amity already in the SCC Housatonic. Still too close to call.

So is the SCC Quinnipiac with Mercy, SHA and Hamden all jockeying for the crown.

And guess who is the only unbeaten team in the Oronoque? If you guessed East Haven at 2-0, you win. The Easties shut out North Haven (which then beat Shelton 3-0 Wednesday) and beat Wilbur Cross. Still, North Haven is the best team in this division. Whether the Indians win it or not is another story.

And kudos to Law for winning at Mercy 1-0 on Wednesday. That's might be the biggest win in the program in a decade.

The SCC tournament begins on Oct. 29.