The Linn-Mar boys soccer team wasn’t happy after last season.

The 1-0 defeat to Prairie in substate did not sit well with the Lions, who lost two consecutive games to end an otherwise promising season.

“We got into the rankings and I think we started to read a little bit too much into what other people were thinking about us and we kind of lost some focus,”  said Coach Corey Brinkmeyer.

Lesson learned.

The Lions are particularly focused as the senior-heavy squad gears up for the new season.

“I think most of our players are coming into the season with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder because they know they were better than they finished, so they know they have some unfinished business to take care of,” Brinkmeyer said.

For the Lions, that business is to get to the state tournament and make a run.

“To get to that state tournament would be awesome,” said senior Ryan Gingrich. “As freshmen, Michael (Zimmerman) and I were able to experience it. Going up there was really fun, we got to see the older guys compete, but we want to get there, too, on our own terms.”

Two key players have moved on

Before the Lions can think about postseason play, however, they must find a way to replace midfielder Charles Barden. Barden, who is now playing soccer for Valparaiso University, was a two-time all-state player.

“Replacing him is going to be hard, especially a player of his caliber,” Gingrich said. “We used Charles a lot more as a player we would go through to get it from our defense to our forwards, and as a team we are going to have to work harder to have other players step up in those places. Maybe not have somebody take as big of a role as him, but multiple players trying to step in that place.”

But Barden is not the only player the Lions will miss from last year's team.

“Our other tough position to replace will be our keeper Ben Cyr. He was a three-year starter after missing his junior year with an injury,”  Brinkmeyer said. “He might be a harder position to replace than even Charles would be.”

Cyr’s presence will be especially missed because of Linn-Mar’s defensive style of play. Although Brinkmeyer said that it is scary to be going into a season without an established keeper to anchor the defense, he is hopeful that somebody will be able to step up and solidify the back.

Several players are contending to fill that role this season. George Steil is the only keeper on the roster who has varsity experience after playing 40 minutes last season behind Cyr.

Much will depend on strong back line

Whoever ends up in goal will have the benefit of playing behind a strong back line that returns all four starters from last season.

“We have very athletic players (on defense) and players that know each other very well: Mason Krusie, Michael Thul, Braxton Lancial, Matt McKillip, those kinda guys,” Gingrich said. "They all know each other very well, they are comfortable around each other, and they often know where they each are.”

A lot will rest on the Lions' back line, as it will be called upon to initiate the offense as well.

“I think a big aspect of our team this year is going to be defensive possession, then quick counterattacks up to the side, feeding it up through our big outside mids, Ben McClimon and Josh Storla,” said senior Michael Zimmerman.

Abundant experience is a plus

Another major strength of the Lions this season will be their abundance of experience. Although the final varsity roster is not set, 25 seniors went out for the team this year and many of them have starting experience.

“Returning that many seniors, having that many years of lifting, experience, and size on the team makes a big difference,” Gingrich said.

Those seniors may be what separates Linn-Mar from the rest of the always talented Mississippi Valley Conference.

“We know that a lot of the other Metro teams graduated a lot, which we will be doing this year, so we feel like, if there is a time, this is the time to do it,” Brinkmeyer said.

“We have a lot of experience, we have a lot of leadership, so we feel really good. We think this is the year to really make a run at it.”