The clock starts ticking Thursday. The 10 seniors on the Chico State men's soccer team hope it strikes gold before their final season is through.
 
The veteran-laden Wildcats open the 2013 season with a road trip to Washington, beginning with a Thursday afternoon affair at 3 p.m. at Saint Martin's. They'll face fellow West Region perennial power Seattle Pacific Saturday at 2.
 
Fans can follow both matches live via the livestat links at www.chicowildcats.com.
 
Tyson Crim, James Stroud, Luke Palmer, Luis Martinez, and Mike Janjigian have all been a part of the men's soccer family for five seasons. Elliott Plummer and Sam Evans are fourth-year seniors. Jake Ward (third year), Jordan Gorman (second), and Kramer Runager (second) give Restrepo plenty of senior leadership to lean on.
 
But the veteran presence doesn't end there. Eight more letterwinners return from last season's California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division Championship team, including starters Octavio Guzman, Matt Hurlow, and Sean Gallagher.
 
Nine of last year's starters are back, along with Crim, a full-time starter in 2011 before he missed last year with an injury.
 
"They've been through it all," said Head Coach Felipe Restrepo, who boasts a 58-27-15 record at the helm. "With that maturity comes a better understanding of what's in front of them and what it will take for us to get where we want to go. They're going to do everything in their power to make sure they're aligned right to give it a good run."
 
The Wildcats were picked to finish second in the CCAA's South Division this season, according to the preseason coaches' poll. Because there are seven teams from the north and five from the south, one northern school has to play in the South Division. This season, it's the Wildcats' turn. 
 
Three redshirt freshmen and a strong group of newcomers will keep the veterans on their toes, according to Restrepo.
 
"We didn't just rest on what we had coming back," said Restrepo. "We have some really solid players coming in that compliment the current group and will push them and compete. They're really pushing for playing time and making the whole group much better."
 
J.P. Medina started four matches as a freshman at UC Riverside in 2011 and will challenge for a starting role in the midfield.
 
Another transfer, Justin Walmsley, and freshman Isaiah Dargan will fortify the defensive third. 
 
Transfers Joachim Gasmi and Justin Saul and freshman Dylan Wakefield give Restrepo a new wave of attackers to work with up top.
 
Of course, all of that is on paper. The story of the 2013 season will begin to unfold in earnest tomorrow.