Jake Dassow lunges to try ….

Jake Dassow lunges to try to stop a shot during soccer practice Thursday.

ford’s schedule this year, which is, without question, the toughest 18-game regular season schedule the program has ever put together in its relatively short history and is all about preparing them for another post-season run.

“Hopefully we can return to that level and even go farther,” Klussendorf said.

“Personality wise, we don’t back down from a challenge,” Rudolph said. “If we’re going to play the best team, we’re going to play the best team all-out. We want the best teams.”

“It’s a tough schedule but it’s not an unreasonable schedule,” Bilodeau said. “I do have confidence that we can play with any school out there.”

additions to this year’s varsity roster.

“I have 17 on varsity and they’re all starters,” Bilodeau said. “Picking the best 11 is a week-to-week thing. It’s probably a game-to-game process. You’re going to have players that are hot and players that are cold. The fortunate news for us is that we can put somebody out there and they’re starter worthy.”

The Raiders hope their depth is a factor that separates them from Rhinelander, Mosinee, Lakeland, Northland Pines and Antigo in the Great Northern Conference. While Medford was a sectional champion, the Raiders did not win the conference a year ago, finishing 7-3, a game behind Rhinelander. Medford got the ultimate revenge, beating the Hodags 2-0 on their home field in a sectional semifinal.

“I think this will be the best year for our conference ever,” Rudolph said. “It’s going to be the most competitive. Every team is good. Even Antigo has all seniors this year, so they have a chance to be competitive.”

“It’s going to be a conference this year where every game is which team wants it more because the talent on every team in our conference is top-notch,” Bilodeau said. “There are phenomenal players on every team we’re going to come across. That being said, I’m super confident that no team has the starting 11 or the 17 varsity players that we have.”

That confidence is shown in Med-