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For footballers at Southlake Carroll, 2011 was unbeatable.

The soccer team finished its season 28-0-3, winning a Class 5A state championship 2-0 against Round Rock McNeil. Then the football team won another Dragon championship with a 16-0 record.

Now it's the soccer team's turn again in Carroll's amicable sports rivalry.

"Our sports teams definitely want to one-up each other, in a friendly way," senior Reed Hitchcock said. "It's been the best feeling in the world to be a Dragon over the past year. We are helping set a standard, with every team playing so well on the field. We need to work hard to keep up."

For the Dragons to keep the streak alive, Carroll needs its young players to adapt to varsity soccer play quickly. The Dragons return just two starters from last year -- Hitchcock and junior Tommy Price.

"That was the greatest experience I've ever had," said Price, who started every game last season except on senior night. "The feeling of winning state is something none of us can truly describe. Starting as a sophomore gave me a lot of confidence in myself. I'm more aggressive now."

After last year, Hitchcock and Price understand how a season builds.

"We can look at last year as a reference point for wherever we are," Hitchcock said. "We can think back and say, 'This is where we were at the same point last season.' That will help us."

Already, Price sees similar characteristics on this year's team.

"Every day we are getting better," Price said. "For the younger players, we have to be all about encouragement. They will have to gain confidence quickly, like I did. It's going to come down to confidence and chemistry. Those are the most important things. If we can build those things, we will do well."

Still, the Dragons will most likely lose at least one game this season.

"I think we will respond well if that happens, and we will probably find that out," Carroll coach Greg Oglesby said.

"The chances of any team going undefeated back-to-back seasons is very slim."

Hitchcock, the senior captain, will always remember being a part of a special season as a junior at Carroll. But for now, he has moved on.

"That team was unbelievably talented," he said. "We may not have that same talent level this year, but we will make sure to have the same work ethic. We are going to work as hard as we can to make this year great, too."

Carroll has many new faces, but Oglesby already recognizes the same drive that made the 2011 team great.

"Because of the type of kids we have and the type of program we have run for many years, I don't think it will be hard to get this group of kids to buy in," Oglesby said.

"They want to be coached, they are open to any techniques and ideas that will make them successful.

"We established a pretty good legacy last year, but now this team has to make its own," he said.

"You can't sit back and rest on last year's legacy."

Brent Shirley, 817-390-7760

Twitter: @bshirley08

Teams to watch

Boys

Southlake Carroll: The Dragons didn't lose a game last year (28-0-3) on their way to a state championship. This year, Carroll has a much younger team with two returning starters but will still be fun to watch.

Aledo: Last year, Aledo was loaded with young talent. This season, the Bearcats will have added experience, starting with returning district MVP Kyle Underwood, a senior midfielder.

Fort Worth North Side: The Steers return just two starters from last year's team that fell one win short of reaching the state tournament. But don't count out North Side. The Steers, led by senior midfielder Juan Rodriguez, have high expectations again.

Grapevine: Gus Snortons (forward/midfielder) and Preston Rose (midfielder/defender) are two of five senior starters for the Mustangs. Grapevine's roster is full of versatile players who can sub in various positions.

Arlington High: It will be hard for teams to score on the Colts this year. Arlington's tough defense features three returning first-team all-district seniors in Tanner Nunn, Ethan Stangl and Reed Casterlin (goalkeeper). Senior midfielder Adan Mancillas, also a first-teamer last season, will spark Arlington's offense.

Girls

Fort Worth Paschal: Seniors Madeline Hamm (attacker of the year in 4-5A last year) and Rebekah Tovar (first team all-district), will lead a powerful Panthers team with 13 returning seniors on its deep, talented roster.

Mansfield Legacy: The Broncos graduated only one of the seven players they landed on the 5-5A All-District team last year.

Keller Fossil Ridge: The Panthers return several key players from last year's team, including junior goalkeeper Kelsey Domerowski (goalkeeper of the year in 6-5A last season) and returning defender of the year senior Ashley Exford.

Aledo: Senior forward Ally Swift, last year's district MVP, will lead the Bearcats, who have won six district titles in the last seven years.

Grapevine: The Mustangs are loaded with Division I talent starting with senior Jade Dapaah, last year's 6-5A defensive player of the year who is headed to Oklahoma. Grapevine also will have last year's freshman of the year, Tori Bowman, and first-team all-district players Heather Magee (senior headed to LSU), Kelsey Shimmick (senior who is committed to Texas) and senior Amanda Tabone.

UIL key dates

Season opened: On Thursday

4A playoffs begin: March 30-31

5A playoffs begin: April 2-3

April 19-21: State tournament, Georgetown