The 2011 Indians are looking to do what no Marion High School boys soccer team has ever done -- earn a berth to state.

The Indians started off 0-3 last year and tore off 12 straight wins before falling in the substate championship game to then top-ranked Dubuque Wahlert, which went on to the state championship game.

“We had a really good season. It just ended pretty badly for us,” said senior midfielder Curran Lipsett. “I guess there is a little bit of revenge out there.”

But more than revenge, Marion is looking to gain some respect.

“People would start paying attention to the soccer program in general (if we could make state),” said senior back Keegan Menken. “Right now nobody really knows about it. If we can make state it would help us get a little more recognition.”

Going into a new season, the Indians' hopes are high.

“We are feeling really good about this season,” said senior Stratton West. “We only lost two players from last year and we made it to the substate final.”

Assistant coach steps up to head coaching job

With so many returning starters, the Indians are looking to pick up right where they left off last year. They are led by a senior class that is 14 players strong, almost all of whom have significant game experience together.

“We have all been playing with each other, even outside of high school with our club teams,” Menken said. “Curran we played against at Heartland a long time ago, and Stratt, I’ve played with him since I was 13 or 14.”

Although the Indians have most of their players coming back, they are missing last year's head coach. The new coach, John Hauskins, who graduated from Marion in 2005, is very familiar with the team, having been an assistant for three years and the head coach in 2009.

“I have known Coach (Eric) Hubbell for a good 10 years,” Hauskins said. “I respect his philosophies on coaching, I learned a lot from him and I try to follow in his footsteps for the most part.”

In any case, this year's team seems to be very self-motivated, taking some pressure off whoever is coaching.

“They tend to push each other more, so it’s less work for me,” Hauskins said. “They recognize that they need to do it for themselves. It’s great to hear in practice, them trying to push each other and trying to get the most out of it that they can.”

What to expect this season

Look for the Indians to be strong in the midfield. “The four guys that will be starting in that position have played in that position all four years,” Hauskins said.

In fact, the midfield was so strong last season that Marion ended up getting most of its goals from those four. Although it helps to have a midfield that is a threat to score, Hauskins would like to see a little bit more attacking prowess out of his forwards this year.

“The only weakness that we really have is, we don’t have a go-to forward,” he said. “Most of our goals come from the midfield.”

Armed with experience, talent and lofty expectations, the Indians are set to embark on their 2011 campaign.

“This year we are just trying to be the best that we can be,” said Menken. “We know we have a lot of talent. We just want to go out and win as many games as possible.”