By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

"Great Expectations" isn't just a classic written by Charles Dickens.

It also can describe the outlook for the 2010 Thomas More Prep-Marian boys' soccer team.

The Monarchs return eight starters from last year's team which made school history, winning the regional championship and advancing to the state quarterfinals for the first time in program history. The Monarchs finished 12-7 overall, the most wins in the young program, which was celebrating its fifth anniversary in 2009.

"I don't want to get caught up in those expectations," TMP coach Shawn Lawson said. "I told (the players) first practice, I don't want to talk about winning. We're going to go a practice at a time. Then one game at a time."

But Lawson admits it's hard for even him to not look ahead.

"I'm ready to go out there and watch them play," Lawson said. "It's hard for me, too, to take it one practice -- I just want to get going."

TMP opens the season Monday with a 4 p.m. match at Elyria Christian, a private school about 7 miles south of McPherson.

Although the Monarchs return most of their starters, two key players graduated from last year's squad. Center backs Nathan Lawson and Braden Dreiling -- the heart of the defense's flat back four -- need to be replaced.

"Last year was a big step; they clicked," Lawson said of his back line. "It all revolved around the center backs."

Taking over will be a pair of seniors, James Mindrup and Matt Roberti.

"I've got some guys I'm excited about," Lawson said of Mindrup and Roberti. "A couple of big guys, really good in the air. They know how to head the ball."

The outside backs on defense will be a combination of seniors Cedric Kim, John Kim, Tanner Younie and Grant Holub.

"I'm trying to go strong in the middle, fast on the outside," Lawson said. "Grant Holub is an extremely versatile player -- he'll play outside defender, center midfield, outside mid."

Senior Kyle Braun, a defender last year, is being tried in midfield.

"We're bringing up Kyle Braun," Lawson said. "Kyle has spent the past couple of years on outside D; he was our best defender."

But Lawson wants to boost the outside midfielders.

"In the past, I thought that was one of our weaker spots, outside mid, and he's probably one of the best outside mids I've seen," Lawson said. "He can play defense; he can score."

Trying to prevent opponents from scoring will be junior goalkeeper Drew O'Brien, in his third year as a starter. Last year, O'Brien had a 0.97 goals-against-average and an .839 saves percentage for a defense which posted nine shutouts -- the most clean sheets in school history.

"Drew's just Superman," Lawson said. "He's got a good work ethic in the offseason."

The other outside midfielder will be senior Jeremy Weber.

"Jeremy Weber, he's made all kinds of strides," Lawson said.

The Monarchs have quality center midfielders in seniors Jordan Maska and Rogelio Gonzalez.

"That'll be our really strong position, I think," Lawson said.

The speedy Maska had seven goals and 12 assists last season, while Gonzalez made a big splash in his first year at TMP with his ball distribution and scoring. Gonzalez scored a team-high 17 goals, and his passing set up teammates for scores.

On the receiving end of many of those balls was striker Teddy Kang. Now a senior, Kang is coming off a 16-goal season despite missing four games with a foot injury. As a sophomore, Kang scored a school-record 21 goals.

"Teddy's a striker at heart," Lawson said. "He's got striker mentality."

The other forward in the 4-4-2 will be junior Eric Choi, who scored six goals last season.

Now, it's this season -- and those pesky expectations.

"After last year, I don't think there's a game we can't win," Lawson said. "I think we can go out and play with anybody. I don't think there's any reason we can't exceed where we were last year."