The Falcons are back on the field as the high school boys soccer team gears up for yet another season.

In 2012-13, head coach Tony Galietti helmed a young team of quick learners, finding much success through the winter season.

“We made a strong run,” Galietti said.

“We lost to Coronado in the quarterfinals but we were able to make the playoffs and won our first round game.

“All in all, I am very happy with last year’s season and would consider it a success.”

Be that as it may, Galietti and his team of older, more experienced Falcons this season are aiming to improve. The key to that success, according to Galietti, will be a foundation of core athletes.

“This year we are returning nine of 11 starters and about 14 players from last year’s varsity squad,” Galietti said.

“Even with one week’s training under our belt, it is obvious that we are much further along so far at this time than we were a year ago.”

Galietti said he expects a lot of competition amidst his players for time on the field, as the Falcons are exhibiting some depth from the top of the roster on down to the bottom.

All told, the Falcon soccer squad is made up of 17 members with six seniors, seven juniors, a sophomore and three freshmen.

That experience will come in handy, as the new season is already off to a quick start.

The 2013-14 run began this past Monday with a home match against Estrella Foothills and continued on Tuesday with another home match versus Bourgade Catholic.

The local boys will be on the road this Thursday, Dec. 5, for a 4 p.m. match-up versus Phoenix Country Day School, and again on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7, to take part in the Seton Catholic/Desert Ridge Cactus Cup.

That’s a whole lot of soccer for the first week of the season, and Galietti is hoping that it will help his squad get off to a strong start as it tests their skills, and endurance, over the course of half a dozen matches.

The local boys will finally return home next Wednesday, Dec. 11, with a 6 p.m. game against Seton Catholic.

Now a couple of weeks into practices, Galietti said he’s feeling rather confident about how the team is looking in these early days.

“Right now we are pretty solid on both sides of the ball and Lucas Johnson will begin his second season as varsity goalkeeper,” Galietti said.

“There are no noticeable flaws in the squad besides the fact that we have senior Joe Ahmann out right now rehabbing an ACL injury and he won’t be fully match fit to start the year.”

Other than that, Galietti said that this year’s squad is extremely well balanced, giving him a lot of tactical options when considering formations and play style.

“Technically, we are going to be stronger this year than we were last year,” he added.

“We also have good team speed and athleticism overall.”

Galietti said he expects the Falcons to make a run at the sectional championship this season, as well as a state crown.

“We have been working hard and training hard in pre-season so far,” Galietti said.

“The boys’ fitness benchmarks are better than they have ever been at this time in the year and we have been able to spend more time on the ball than conditioning, which will pay off for us as we begin the season.”

Moving forward, Galietti said his approach to the 2013-14 season will be to focus on playing fundamentally sound and disciplined soccer.

“Our depth is our greatest strength,” he concluded.

“The boys are technically sound, so it’s up to me to select the best 11 and set them up to realize their potential and allow them to play to the best of their ability.”