Sure, team goals are set high for the two-time defending state champion Skyline girls soccer team in 2010.

The Spartans desire nothing less than a three-peat.

But, be certain, nobody in green and white is getting too far ahead of themselves.

By playing in the KingCo 4A — arguably the toughest conference in the state — there’s a lot of work to be done before anyone can fathom a return trip to Tacoma.

“It’s crazy to think that you have to battle all those people just to get back to where you were,” said senior captain, Michelle Bretl.

The KingCo 4A is responsible for the last four state champions and five of the last eight state titles.

And, it’s not expected to be any different in 2010.

“Again, we find ourselves in a ridiculously difficult league,” Skyline head coach Don Braman said.

While it will be a test, the seventh-year coach likes his chances with the weapons returning to the field. Bretl will lead the front line at forward, while fellow senior captains Brittanee Randle and Madi Barney will anchor the defense and midfield, respectively.

Senior defenders Meighan Hawkes and Makenzie Malsam, senior midfielder Alisha Connors, and senior forward Emily Anderson also return veteran leadership.

In addition, the Spartans return one of the key components of last year’s state championship victory in junior goalkeeper Tina Vargas. As a sophomore, she made two diving saves on Issaquah penalty-kicks to help the Spartans win a shootout.

Junior midfielder Maddie Christ, junior midfielder Nicole Candioglos, junior defender Dominique Randle, junior forward Jackie Wilson and sophomore forward Rachel Shim all return from last season.

“We return so many good players, that I feel really fortunate,” Braman said. “What we’ve really done is returned 13 players who have played in games for us — we have kids who are experienced in playing minutes.”

Skyline also has some young players expected to make immediate impacts, including freshmen midfielders Brooke Bofto and Brooke Holland.

“We have a lot of new players who bring great energy,” Braman said.

The biggest strength for this year’s group of Spartans?

“We’re all very competitive,” Brittanee Randle said. “We don’t like losing, I think that’s the big aspect about our team.”

Skyline will no doubt need that tough attitude if it hopes to come out on top of KingCo and reach its ultimate goal of a return to the state championship game.

“We’re not going to be sneaking up on teams, they’ll know that we’re strong,” Braman said. “We have to prove it every night that we’re there to play.”

Skyline, which is 30-6-2 over the last two seasons, begins the 2010 campaign at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 4 at home against non-league Enumclaw.