The state quarterfinals have been a road block for South Whidbey’s boys soccer team in otherwise successful seasons.

The Falcons hope to break through this postseason, only after toppling teams in the Cascade Conference like Archbishop Murphy and King’s.

Increased physicality and aggression are among head coach Emerson “Skip” Robbins’ goals for the season. Though the Falcons lost nine starters from last season’s squad, which lost 3-2 to Bellevue Christian in the second round of the state 1A boys soccer tournament, senior captains Lochlan Roberts and Lucas Leiberman are confident the team’s work ethic and determination will help mitigate the loss of talent.

“I’m really looking to work on overall team aggression and every time they get a touch on the ball, there’s someone pressuring,” Roberts said. “At times, it obviously takes talent to put it in the back of the net, but a lot of times it’s that will to win that’s the drive behind it.”

Some new faces to the program will help the Falcons in attaining their goals.

Three freshmen, Graham Colar, Michael Lux and Julian Inches have all earned spots on the varsity squad. It is the first time in Robbins’ five years with the team that first-year players made varsity. Roberts was stunned by the freshmen’s tenacity during the first week of practice last week.

“We have three very, very determined freshman that have day by day just left me gobsmacked,” Roberts said. “They’re just tenacious on the ball, every tackle is 100 percent, really, really impressive.”

Though Robbins said part of the reason the freshmen will play varsity is due to the Falcons’ low turnout, 31 players, as compared to previous years, he is equally impressed by their play.

“They wowed me, no question,” Robbins said. “The interesting thing is they are not intimidated whatsoever. They go up against the seniors and it doesn’t even phase them. That’s pretty rare.”

Leiberman said it was too early in the season to assess what the team’s offensive philosophy will be, but he was sure about one thing.

“Starting the game on fire is key,” Leiberman said. “South Whidbey is kind of known for coming out kind of flat. We’ve had a problem with that in the past. I feel like this year if we work hard on it, you just have to come out and set the tone. That’s a big key to start the game because it just sets the tone for the entire game.”

The Falcons open the season with a jamboree on March 11 hosted by Coupeville High School, followed by consecutive home matches against The Bush School on March 12 and Coupeville on March 19.

Leiberman and Roberts highlighted King’s and Archbishop Murphy as anticipated contests.

“There’s if this, if that, but I think when it comes down to it, the will to win is the biggest thing,” Roberts said. “I’m just looking to give them a run for their money. There’s no grin on my face that will be bigger if we beat Archbishop Murphy.”