The Woodlands has some new faces this season, but the expectations for the team remain the same: win District 14-5A and make a deep run in the playoffs.

That’s exactly what the Highlanders did last year, advancing all the way to the regional semifinals before losing to McKinney Boyd, 2-1. The Woodlands finished its season with a 20-3-3 overall record, including a 10-1-1 mark in league play.

“We know what it takes to win a district championship,” Highlanders coach Hans Kleinschmidt said. “We know how hard it is just to win a district championship. We’re not going to take anything for granted. Our experience helps, but experience means nothing if we don’t stay focused and we don’t stay hungary.”

The Highlanders have 20 seniors on this year’s roster, including a handful of players who came back to compete for the high school after previously playing with club teams in the spring.