After being hobbled by injuries last season when the Broncos went 11-13-2 and lost in the first round of the Section 7A playoffs to Princeton in double overtime, the International Falls girls hockey team has its sights set on a trip to state in 2013-14.

The Broncos lost eight of their first 11 games in 2012-13 when they were bitten by the injury bug, including at goalie, before winning eight games and tying two others going into the playoffs.

Gerald Bolstad enters his fifth year as Falls’ head coach with the graduation losses from last season being forward Jordan Bright and defensive player Rebekah Ford. Both players are now on the Rainy River Community College women’s hockey team.

Bolstad’s list of top returning players includes the top-two scorers from last season — senior forwards Amy Auran and Hillary Fox.

Auran, who recorded 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points in 2012-13, also ranks second all-time in career goals for the Broncos at 68. Fox, who had 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points last season, is seventh in career goals at 35.

Sydney Gordon, who played for the Falls from 2005-11, is the Bronco girls career leader in goals at 97.

The Falls also returns senior defensive player Katie West, the Broncos’ top scorer on defense last season and someone whom Bolstad describes as a “shutdown defender.”

Senior goalie Keanna Carlson is back in the net for the Falls as a three-year starter. Carlson has an .898 career save percentage, 11 career shutouts, 27 career wins and 946 career saves.

The Falls is also returning a pair of forwards who were out of the lineup for most of last season — senior Sydney Raboin and junior Tessa Walls.

Bolstad said the strengths of this year’s team include “speed, maturity (and) good depth at goaltender” with Carlson and sophomore Taylor Fish both having varsity experience in the net.

However, he said the Broncos are lacking depth on defense, and he is concerned the most this season about injuries.

Bolstad said he is looking forward to “just being able to work with a great bunch of girls” with this season’s team goals including a Section 7A championship and going to the State Class A Tournament.

He said the teams to watch out for include Proctor/Hermantown, Hibbing/Chisholm and Fort Frances, which is “always a great rivalry.”

The Broncos open the season next Tuesday at Roseau and have their first home game Friday night against Silver Bay.