The Mount Si boys’ varsity soccer team is looking forward to the upcoming season, and for good reason.

The team appears primed to possibly make the playoffs, largely due to returning experienced players. And it is unified. The Wildcats’ head coach, Bruce Caldwell, is recovering from illness. In his place this season are interim coaches Bev Jorgensen and Glenn Cromer. They both believe the team is good.

“We have a lot of returning varsity players. We have eight seniors,” said Jorgensen. She added seniors to watch include midfielders Drew Arenth and Pete Talevich and defensive players Kyle Jacobson and Jeremy Winter.

Sophomore forward Dan Barnes and midfielder Dan Talevich are top underclass players to watch. The goalkeeping is strong, led by junior Eddie Becker.

Arenth believes that the team’s goaltending can be even better.

“It needs a little work right now. They’re good; they’re going to get a lot of potential,” he said. “There’s a couple of things they need to work on – get a little more brave, then that’s about it.”

Jorgensen said Newport and Liberty might be tough in the KingCo Conference, but the Wildcats have set their sights high.

“I think we’ll be in the playoffs. That’s our goal. The season’s been dedicated to Coach Caldwell, and we’re taking it all the way,” she said.

Arenth thinks that experience will help Mount Si’s cause.

“A lot of good teams last year lost a lot of seniors and we kept a lot, so it could look good,” he said.

Sweeper Pat Rilly agreed, saying, “I think we really have a good chance this year. I think we work more as a team than we did last year, and I think we’re going to try to win some for [Coach] Caldwell,” he said.