WEST LIBERTY, Iowa The West Liberty High School boys soccer team doesn't want a repeat of last season, or the season before that.

The Comets are ready to break through to the championship game at the state tournament after two consecutive fourth-place finishes at James W. Cownie Soccer Park in the last two seasons.

Defense will be a key component toward building a third state run. The Comets were in the top ten in goals scored as a team with 50, but allowed 38, tied for the most scores allowed by a Class 1A state-qualifying team last season.

"Last year's team was not very good defensively," West Liberty coach Mike Gunn admitted. "We'll be a tougher defensive team this season, more physical, bigger and faster."

To the Comets' credit, they defeated 2012 champion Waterloo Columbus, upending the No. 2 seed and one of the stingiest defensive teams in the tournament 2-1.

They ran into a determined Iowa City Regina team in the semifinals, falling behind early in the first half of a 4-0 Regals victory. Regina went on to beat Dyersville Beckman 4-0 in the championship game.

"There's no reason to be that weak against their attack," Gunn said. "We had enough guys in the right place but we didn't do a very good job."

Gunn added that this will be the youngest team he's coached, but even with that youth there's plenty of experience at various levels.

Two preseason standouts are first-year forwards Andres Garcia-Vargas and Martin Menjivar-Benegas. Menjivar-Benegas moved from Honduras last year and played club soccer with Garcia-Vargas.

"Andres is a very talented forward and ... also played some with an adult soccer league," Gunn said. "Another freshman, [defender] Joe Baker, has played with the soccer club for years and is fast with good endurance."

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Comets feel ready to break fourth-place barrier