KEY WEST -- The expectations are high for the Key West High boys soccer team this season, as the Conchs hope to made a run deep into the postseason. With a solid core of seniors and loads of talent on either side of the ball, coach Jason Clifford said he is willing to put his squad up against any prep team.

"I'm excited about the year," said the Conchs' coach. "I think we have a really good chance to get back in the playoffs. We made it six years in a row and then missed out two years, because we didn't have a single senior. This year, up front, I'll put my top three with any top three, and, in the back, my top four can easily play with any top four."

A major reason for the excitement is because of the talented group of seniors -- last season's Citizen All-Monroe Country Player of the Year Trevoi Gordon, Monnell Azard, Rennie Joris, Shaun Hamilton, Wardon Charles, Zack Harden, Cale Hartle and the addition of Andy Meillus -- who will be anchoring the team this season.

"It's nice we have the senior leadership and some enthusiasm going into the season," said Clifford. "We definitely have a more mature team than we have had in the past few years. The expectations are there, so now they're trying to reach those goals."

The players echo their coach's thoughts and in most cases expect even more out of each other.

"We are pushing for a big season," said Joris. "With just how we've been playing, we started off really quick. I think it's going to be a big year. Last year I felt we had a pretty good chance to go far and the majority of the team is back. This year, we are just looking to have fun, but put up a lot of victories at the same time."

Part of the reason for the hopes of a big year is the change of schools in the district has left the Conchs with teams they should be able to defeat. Miami Norland, Miami Jackson and Miami Central are great football schools, but not traditional soccer schools. Also fighting for top billing in District 16-4A against Key West will be Belen Jesuit Prep, Mater Academy and Westland Hialeah. Clifford said the Conchs should do well and finish among the top two, which would send them on to the Region 4 tournament.

Many of the players are realistically looking to having a flawless season or closer to perfect than any Key West team has done in the past.

"The schedule is something we need take advantage of," said Hartle. "It we finish undefeated, then I'll be happy. I think we have the ability to do that. If we get a good streak going at the beginning of the year, then everything is just going to fall into place and it'll be a good year. Just having the same group of guys back again is great."

"We've been there, we just have to execute now," said Hamilton. "We know what it's like and nothing is going to surprise us. We just have to be prepared and that's what we've been doing during preseason."

Part of what the Conchs have been working on is a new style of approaching the game. With speed, size and lots of endurance, Clifford said he believes the Conchs can play to the pace of any opponent.

"We could be dangerous," said Clifford. "The way we're going to play this year, we're going to score a lot of goals. It's not going to be traditional standing around, kicking it around, style of soccer. We're going to counter everything and go wide open every time, so it will be a fun game to watch."

According to the coach, every season the Conchs have scored at least 100 goals, they have made a run into the postseason. He said he believes this year they'll come close to that mark.

"There's a lot of excitement with a lot of speed," said Clifford. "The fact that we have only 18 games, the 100-goal mark will be tough. We'll have to average five or six a game, but I do think we'll have a chance to get near it. There's no team that's going to beat us athletically. They're going to beat us because they are better soccer players."

So with strength, a solid core of seniors and speed along, with the attitude and swagger, the Key West players are believing in not only themselves, but as an entire team as a whole.

"I'm pretty pumped up about what might happen," said Charles. "We expect to be pretty great in everything we do this year. I have no doubt how far we can go and it's just exciting to know we can go that far. We have the mentality to do whatever we want and we will just go for it. I know we got what it takes."

If the Conchs are to be eliminated before the regional tournament, the coaching staff and many of the players have said it would be a disappointing season. However, for now the battle-tested squad seems to be playing the game just for the fun of it and worrying about districts when the time comes. But, with what the team is calling a goal-scoring machine with a lot of fire power up font, to go along with a rock solid defense in the back, it seems as if anything might just be possible.

"We're going to be golden," said Gordon. "Everybody has just meshed together after all the years together and we're beginning to become a good unit. If everybody steps up, comes out and works it should be just a great season in general."

jwcooke@keysnews.com