Sometimes, it's not who you have back. It's who you don't.
The Jefferson City Jays return nine starters as they get set to begin the soccer season this afternoon against C.B.C. in St. Louis. It's an impressive number.
"We hope that will translate well into wins and losses," said Jefferson City head coach Eddie Horn, entering his 25th season at the helm.
But the Jays will miss Spencer Bone, who was was the lone senior starter last season. He was the player that made the offense go.
"That's the missing piece for us," Horn said. "Scoring goals is going to be a real problem for us from what I've seen in practice. I hope it gets better or it could be a long season."
It could have been 10 returning starters. Jason Myers, who started as a junior on the defense, tore his ACL in the spring and is out for the season.
"We're really going to miss him," Horn said.
The returners may not all go back to the positions they held last season.
"We're not settled into a starting lineup yet," Horn said. "But if I was smart enough to find 11 players and start them the entire season, I might be coaching at a different level."
This season, it will start on the defensive end for the Jays.
"When you don't have those offensive threats, it's important to be strong defensively to give ourselves a chance," Horn said. "Starting the season, I don't know if we can outscore teams just yet. We have to find ways to keep it close and get a goal somehow."
The Jays will have a leg up with senior Zach Brooks returning in goal.
"Anytime you have a strong keeper, that's a great place to start," Horn said.
Playing directly in front of Brooks will be seniors Seth Stegeman, Alec Propst and Trent Sigmound, along with junior Layton Boyce.
The center midfield spots will be manned by seniors Erich Sporleder and Logan Horn. Sporleder has started since his freshman year, while Horn entered the lineup as a sophomore.
Horn said the Jays are still deciding on the outside midfielders. Jordan Carron, a senior, and junior Skyler Richardson could get the nods.
Carron is also in the mix at forward, along with seniors Colton Acock and Romando Thomas.
There are a total of 16 seniors on the roster.
"We've got a lot of guys who have played a lot of soccer for us," Eddie Horn said. "The chemistry is very good on the team, they train really well."
Horn said the Jays have tinkered with some different formations to see if they can find an offensive spark.
"But formations are always overrated, it always comes down to the players," he said.
Those players will be tested right out of the gate today as C.B.C. is always in the mix for the state championship.
"They will give us a very good gauge of where we're at and what we need to work on," Horn said. "There are a lot of positives to opening with them. It's a great measuring stick, you're not going to get a false sense of security that you might get if you play somebody who isn't quite at their level.
"It will get us going in the right direction."
Traditionally, the Jays don't hit their stride until the middle of September.
"I don't think it will be any different this year," Horn said. "The second half of the season, we could be hard to deal with. But I don't know how quick of a start we're going to get off to this year."
Other difficult regular season matchups figure to come against St. Louis University High, Rockhurst, Hickman, Rock Bridge, Rolla and Helias. Jefferson City will match up against Chaminade and Marquette in the Art Firley Shootout, as well as hosting the Capital City Invitational and playing at the Gateway City Classic in St. Louis and the Kickapoo Tournament in Springfield.
"There aren't going to be any easy games for us, if we don't show up to play in each one of them, it could be a long year," Horn said.
The Jays will host 10 regular-season contests, in addition to the Firley Shootout and the Capital City Invitational.