The North Cascades Conference is not the sort of place where a team wants to give up more than a couple premier players per season.

Last year, Sultan won the state title out of the NCC. Meridian took fourth. Blaine beat the Falcons, then the second-ranked NCC team, in a district playoff game to steal the last state ticket issued to the little Western Washington conference.

So with seven starters wiped off the roster due to graduation, why is it that the 2003 Falcons seem so confident? Probably because they’re an even better team this season.

With eight seniors and a smattering of juniors, sophomores and even one freshman in the varsity lineup, the Falcons are back to take the NCC title they wanted so badly in 2002, and to make it to state for the third time in four years.

Falcon coach Paul Arand is at least as optimistic as his players, but he also has the perspective of experience.

“We want to win this year,” said . “But the conference is extremely tough.”

Possessors of a 53-18 scoring advantage over all opponents last year, the Falcons are planning for even more offense this season. From the new offense-oriented defensive strategy to a speedy striker corps, the Falcons are set up to out score almost anyone.

Good news for the team is the return of senior striker Claudia Gil-Osorio, who sat out much of last season due to injuries. Also on shooting duty will be sophomore Jenna Wild, the team’s 2002 scoring leader with 14 goals.

Keeping the ball out of the net will be responsibility of all-conference goalkeeper Allyson Riggs, as well as defenders Rita Jones, Lena Ishii, Natalie Schmidt and Willa Purser. Thrown into the mix are a number of all-conference and all-area players, including senior Taryn Langlois and sophomore Katie Watson.

But even with the best laid plans, the Falcons are still reserving a measure of judgement over their preparation for the season for when the games start. Though many girls on the team come in fit from summer soccer and ready to soak up the team’s new strategies, Gil-Osorio said she is taking a wait-and-see attitude toward the top teams in the NCC.

“You don’t really know what to expect,” she said.