The family is back.

Auburn Riverside’s boys soccer team hopes its their familial bond translates to wins this season – and maybe even a state championship.

“We have the potential to go all of the way,” said junior Keegan Dooan, who played with the Seattle Sounders FC Academy. “We’ve got the drive and we’ve got the love with everyone. We’ve got it all. Thisis something special.”

The Ravens’ ultimate goal is to go further than in 2015, when their season ended with a 3-2 loss to Interlake in the Class 3A state semifinals.

“I think the whole team feels like we fell short of our bigger goal,” said Ravens coach Robyn Saarenas. “From day one, we walked out here remembering that and set the bar high.”

Still, it was a vast improvement over a year earlier, when Auburn Riverside won just a single game and “struggled putting balls in the back of the net,” Saarenas said.

Junior Andy Starkel said the team lacked a “family feeling” in 2014.

“I wouldn’t say the leadership was great that year,” he said. “It kind of led to a disappointing season.”

Now, “we’re like best friends out here … It’s just a big family unit.”

Saarenas said she feels the team is more “collected” this season. The defensively strong group has shut out every opponent it has faced so far.

“I would say we’re a very skilled team,” she said. “I would say we’re very strong defensively. We’re just like every other team looking to find the hero to put the ball in the back of the net.”

Dooan said the players know how to direct their focus.

“We know defense starts up top,” he said, “so we’re really working on that right now.”

Starkel, who sprained his right foot against Sumner but expects to be back by the second rotation, said that the players are always looking to match each other. Sophomore Riley Dunne is playing in hisplace.

“If someone makes a good save, it’s like, ‘Now I’ve got to make a good save,’” he said.

Senior midfielder Brandon Gonzalez said high-school soccer provides a unique dynamic.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Gonzalez, who also played with the Sounders Academy. “You have a lot of friends that are like brothers.”

Saarenas said she expects that family feeling to continue to grow.

“They’re doing a good job of being team players,” she said, “and I think they’re molding into the community that we have here, which is everyone plays for each other.”

And maybe for a state title? The players certainly think so.

“We have the drive, we have the family feelings and we work hard for each other,” senior centerback Corey Brinkman said. “That’s what’s going to get us to the top.”