Ryan DeFour will have a hard time topping his debut as coach of the Suttons Bay cooperative soccer team. But he'll try.

He and his wife had a baby boy, Logan, the day after his team captured the Regional crown in 2006 and advanced to the state semifinals before bowing out to event champion Hudsonville Unity Christian.

"I hope this year is a lot slower," he said.

The Norse lost only four players to graduation: Holly Orban (who earned first-team All State recognition), Victoria Alfonseca, Jackie Bussey of Northport, and Coti Sprattmoran of Leland.

This year’s 18-member roster boasts several veteran players who are anxious to make another state tournament run. Second-team All State goalie Kelsey Wick will return in nets for the Norse, along with Rachel Stearns. Both are seniors.

“Our goal is to meet Unity Christian again and play competitively with them,” said Fran Belanger, one of two juniors DeFour recognizes as a team leader. The other leader on the team is junior Charlotte Stowe, who along with junior Alyssa Korson and sophomore Chelsea Moyer play club ball off-season with the NorthStar organization based in Traverse City.

“Things are starting off pretty well,” Stowe said. “Our goal is to be real fit and I think everyone is working hard to fulfill this.”

Sophomore Michelle Ness also plays with the NorthStars and has been practicing with the Norse. However, her playing time is in doubt due to a knee injury.

As of March 28, Suttons Bay had only been out on the pitch twice, with other practices confined to the indoors because of weather conditions.

“It’s a big change from being in the gym … the way the ball moves and its speed,” Stowe said.

Korson, a St. Mary student, is participating in two sports this spring: soccer and track. In track, the speedy junior competes in the 400 meter run and 300 meter hurdles.

“The teams have practiced at different times. I can make it to both of them,” she said. “I’ve been doing a lot of running.”

Other familiar Norse names who went to the Final Four last season are Erin Sneed, Suzanne Duperon and Maeve Burns of Leland, and Arianna Guillen of Suttons Bay. New to the team this year is sophomore Shawna Sitarek of Northport.

The Norse begin the 2007 campaign on the road Tuesday at T-C Liberty and hosts Benzie Central on April 12 before a two-week road trip that includes stops in Cadillac, Harbor Springs, Manistee and Ludington.