After a 21-4 state championship season, the boys’ varsity soccer team lost eight seniors and one goalkeeper from last year’s title-holding team.

“After losing so many seniors, our team will have to find a new captain,” junior Robert Dujovne said. “We’re also going to have to find new starters to replace the seniors. I want to bond with the new players on the team.”

According to Coach Bob Robidoux, there is a good crop of young players lined up to fill the void left by the nine departed players.

“We lost a lot of talent, but the underclassmen were able to train and play with the seniors and learn the system,” Robidoux said. “I am confident with the [ability of the] returning players to fill the roles left by the graduated players.”

Junior Derek Dolnik is one of the rising varsity players and will be adding depth to the team’s lineup.

“I definitely have some nerves since it’s my first year on the team, but everyone has been really supportive,” Dolnik said. “I expect us to be in good shape. I think we definitely have  the potential to win another state title, but we’ll have to work hard because of the loss of last years seniors and one of our goalkeepers.”

Half of last season’s starting backline were seniors; as a result, younger defenders will have to step-up and assume the vacant roles. Sophomore goalkeeper Cooper Stein said he looks foward to working with the new defenders.

“We still have Collin [Robidoux] and Brandon [Benitez] in the back who hold it down well, but I would like to see a couple of new players step up and fill those vacant roles,” Stein said. “I think with them, we will do well. My goal is to just stay as close as I can to a clean sheet.”

Despite the minor rebuild in store, the team has high expectations for this season.

“Players know the tradition and are proud to wear our jersey,” Robidoux said. “They understand the commitment of hard work to keep the program at the highest level.”

The boys sit at 1-0 as of Nov. 15 after an 8-2 win at Heritage.