It sounds like the kind of lofty goal every team sets in training camp, when everyone is full of optimism.
And then the season begins, it becomes a grind, players get banged up, injuries drain some of those high hopes and then everyone looks back and says, 'What were they thinking?'

For the Burlington Chiefs, though, the Jr. A lacrosse squad's goal of finishing in the top four in the Ontario Lacrosse Association might not be as ambitious as it appears. For starters, all but two players will return from last year's squad which made the leap from 0-21-0 to 8-8-2.

Inexperience, general manager Glen Little said, was the only thing preventing the team from reaching the upper echelon last season. While their .500 record earned them the final playoff spot, the Chiefs were just four points from being in the top four last season. And it's not hard to find where those points were lost:

* a 12-11 loss to Whitby after leading 11-6 in the third period

*tying Toronto 8-8 after surrendering a goal with two seconds to play in overtime

* losing 9-8 to Peterborough on a goal with four seconds to play

"We're a year older, a year smarter, a year stronger and a year wiser," Little said, "all the things that happen with experience. If we show we can win the close one, we'll be there. "

Little said it is a progression similar to one he and the Chiefs' coaching staff, led by second-year head Shawn Cardy, went through in Oakville with a Jr. B team that eventually won the national championship.
"We had to learn how to win," he said.

There is one thing that will not work in the Chiefs' favour. Last year, coming off the winless season, many teams viewed them as a pushover.

"We caught everybody by surprise last year," Little said. "We're kind of like the Toronto Raptors. Last year they surprised people, this year they didn't surprise anybody."

The Chiefs will open the exhibition schedule at home Monday, May 5 at 8 p.m. against Kitchener-Waterloo. They will host Toronto at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 10.

While the element of surprise may be gone, one thing is certain. The Chiefs have a solid foundation starting from the crease where they have two netminders with impressive resumés. Gary Muzzin was the MVP in leading Oakville to the Founders Cup two years ago and Jason Crawford backstopped the Brock Badgers to the national university title.

"Our goaltending is second to none in the league," Little said.

MVP MACRAE BACK

In front of them will be team MVP Dan MacRae, who Little says "by 2009 will be the best D in Jr. A." Team captain Brendan Farrer also plays a key role in shutting down the opposition. Brad Galante, Chris Downey and Matt Bertrand also return on defence while Matt Hicks, who provided valuable secondary scoring last season, is moving back to defence, his natural position.

In transition, the Chiefs will feel the loss of Bryan Johnson, the team's top defensive player. Little hopes newly acquired Jon Hagel can fill that role. Cameron Mann, Alex Crepinsek, Jordan MacIntosh, Scott Johnston and Chiefs' rookie of the year Connor Daly also return while first-round draft pick Ethan O'Connor is also expected to bolster the transition game.

Up front, Little is expecting a big year from Ryan Learn, who led the team with 57 points in 17 games, as well as 20-goal scorers Chris Moulson and Kiel Matisz. Dylan MacDougall, who broke his hand in pre-season last year, should benefit from a full season of good health and Kevin Brownell and Justin Wilson-Kirby should also continue to build on their previous seasons.

"We have to strive to be better and not accept just being average," Little said. "We cannot accept taking a step back."