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A year ago, the best offense for the La Conner High School boys’ soccer team was a good defense.

That script will flip in 2023, however, as a deep roster with plenty of playmakers will be more aggressive on the offensive side of the pitch.

Blessed with a solid core of returnees from a club that dropped tight 2-0 and 3-0 matches with Mount Vernon Christian and highlighted the 2022 campaign with a 1-0 shutout win over NW2B/1B rival Coupeville, head coach Galen McKnight envisions a more robust attack this fall.

“We have a big incoming junior class,” McKnight told the Weekly News during the team’s second pre-season workout on Tuesday morning last week. “We’ll have around 20 players all together, so we’ll try to be more aggressive offensively.”

During much of the 2022 season, La Conner was content to shorten matches by extending possessions with perimeter passing.

Now the approach will be to strike fast and often.

McKnight and assistant coach Joel Hingston believe they have the players to push the NW1B/2B loop’s elite programs.

“This might be the most complete roster I’ve had,” McKnight said.

All he is missing at this point is a goalkeeper, though Braves hoopster Tyler Cicotte is a leading candidate to fit the role. That maintains McKnight’s long-held tradition of having basketball players guard the net.

Simon Bouwens, Isaac Kitchen, Corran Eisen and Logan Burks will be among those pressing the action for La Conner’s amped up offense. Rueben Hall, a transfer from MVC, Lane Tenborg, Flint Huizenga and Sammy Williams will likewise be key contributors for the Braves.

“Sammy,” McKnight said, “is my utility guy. I can put him anywhere.”

The Braves’ early season slate includes a Sept. 9 home contest with Sound Christian. La Conner visits Lopez Sept 12 before returning to Whittaker Field Sept. 15 for a key conference clash with Friday Harbor.

A critical road test at MVC follows Sept. 18.

McKnight anticipates another tough NW2B/1B title chase as the league traditionally fields a handful of the state’s top small-school boys’ soccer teams –MVC, 2021 state champion Orcas Island and defending state title winner Friday Harbor.

MVC is coming off a fourth place state tourney finish.

Nor can Coupeville be overlooked. The Wolves handed Friday Harbor one of its two losses last year.