After winning back-to-back WPIAL and PIAA titles in 2005 and 2006, the WPIAL semifinals have proven to be the stumbling block for the South Park High School boys' soccer team the past two seasons.

This year with a combination of nine returning starters, a healthy roster and increased depth, coach Jon Cantwell thinks he has the team to vault South Park back into the finals.

Even moreso than the nine returning starters, depth can prove to be the biggest attribute for the Eagles this season.

"I think the depth is the one thing I clearly see as a difference this year," Cantwell said.

"We are much stronger one through 18 than we have been in the past. We haven't been this strong one through 18 since the 2005 state championship team."

The 2005 state title was followed by another in 2006. During the past two year's, however, South Park has been eliminated in the semifinals, first by Steel Valley, 1-0, in 2007 and then by Mars, 3-2, last season.

"I want to give it my all this year, I would love to get back there," said senior forward Josh Tolentino, who was a freshman on the last South Park state championship team.

"And for everyone who hasn't been there, I know they want to be a part of it, too."

Tolentino was a part-time starter his freshman year on the state title-winning team, but he missed his entire sophomore year when the ACL in his right leg was torn.

That was one in a long line of injuries that have hurt the Eagles. Especially the past few seasons, injuries have caught up to South Park but this year Cantwell said his team has been able to avoid the injury bug.

"It is a little different this year than in years past," Cantwell said. "We have had the big injuries in the past that have caused anxiety and stress. Those injuries were good and bad.

"The good news is these sophomores and juniors who had to step in [for injured players] got significant playing time that they might not have seen otherwise."

Five of those juniors make up the core of the starting lineup for South Park. Midfielders Matt Walbert, Matt Papinchak and Ryan Luffey and defender Nick Becchio and forward Aaron Crain are all returning starters. They are joined by four senior returning starters, forward Jake Smith, defender Zack Zatezalo, goalie Alec Valenta and Tolentino.

This will be the third year as a starter for seniors Walbert, Becchio and Luffey. Tolentino was the leading goal-scorer last year for South Park with 23 goals.

"The challenge we have right now is that we got some really good depth," Cantwell said. "I think with so many returning starters, finding [playing] time for guys will be a challenge."

For a team that has reached the WPIAL final four every year since 2002, last year got off to an uncharacteristically slow start. The Eagles began 1-3-1 and were sitting 1-3 in the section.

They got things turned around in a hurry, winning 11 of 13 to finish the regular season and then won four of six in the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs to reach the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA quarterfinals.

"It has been a battle every year," Tolentino said. "Going from my freshman year winning states and then every other year coming up short. It gives you something more to work for. I think we are a well-balanced team this year. Everyone is going to make an impact on this team."

Cantwell expects senior defenders Kurt Koeppl and Ron Graff to fill some voids in the lineup and he said that freshman Michael Pcholinsky has emerged throughout camp and could see time at midfielder or forward. Another young player, sophomore Mark Sullivan, will see time as a midfielder.

South Park opens its section schedule when it plays host to Uniontown Tuesday at 8 p.m. A major test for the Eagles will come Sept. 17 when it plays host to Thomas Jefferson. Of South Park's six losses last season, three came against TJ.

South Park is also scheduled to play Canon-McMillan, Mount Pleasant, Trinity and Laurel Highlands in non-section matches.