The Collinsville High School boys soccer team lost seven seniors from the 2013 team, but expect to be better this year.

Head Coach Myles Hensler expects seniors Tanner Przybysz, Niles (Jordan) Smith and Brett Langley to help offset the impact of losing a big chunk of the 2013 starting lineup. Smith and Langley return to the program after a two-year absence. Both were CHS varsity players as freshman.

Despite losing leading scorer Cody Sanftleben, who was second in the Southwestern Conference in scoring in 2013, Hensler believes the team will have more scoring punch, and more scoring options, than last year, taking pressure off returning All-Conference midfielder, Grant Bauer.

At times last year, Bauer tried to do too much with the ball, Hensler said. The senior, second-year captain, found the back of the net eight times in 2013 and lead the team with six assists.

“He’ll play a major role for our team this year, both offensively and defensively,” Hensler said.

Consistent scoring was an issue last season for the 10-11-1 team. The 2013 Kahoks were shutout nine times, but averaged 2.7 goals in games in which they scored. With more scoring options this season, Hensler believes his team will be able to more consistently beat the opposing goalkeeper.

Another year in his system should correct some of the defensive lapses that plagued his team last year, said Hensler, who is entering his fourth season as the Kahoks head coach.

“As players grow in the program, they understand it more each and every year,” Hensler said. “As long as we can stick to our structure and our game plan, as a team, we’ll be pretty successful.”

Sophomore goalkeeper Brett Niedzwiecki should benefit from an improved defense. The captain had eight shutouts in 2013 and a 1.95 goals against average. Hensler said a more structured defense will benefit the second-year starter.

“He knows the game, he sees everything in front of him very well and gives good communication to his teammates,” Hensler said. “Hopefully we can help him out a bit this year; deny some of those multiple opportunities.”

Senior Brendan Rosenburg and sophomore Clayton Hartman will be counted on to keep the ball clear of Niedzwiecki, but Hensler expects the entire team to step up this year.

“Every single one of our 10 starting players, and our goal keeper, is going to have a major role,” Hensler said. “With a roster of 22 people, everyone is going to have an opportunity to step up.”

If a player is not performing, there should be another ready to take his place. There were 82 players that tried out for the 2014 team, the most since he has coached at CHS, Hensler said.

The Kahoks play in the Southwestern Conference, one of the toughest in the state. Hensler also included Missouri soccer power programs St. John Vianney and Chaminade on the schedule to challenge his team and expose their weaknesses, he said.

With such a difficult schedule, it may be foolhardy to set a goal for a regular season record, but Hensler made one thing clear, “we have high expectations this year.”