Finding replacements for graduating players is a challenge for every collegiate program.

That challenge, however, looms especially big for the Colorado College men's soccer team, which must fill the void created by the departure of five all-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference players and six starters from a year ago.

Instead of dwelling on the loss of Offensive Player of the Year Matt Fechter, Defensive Player of the Year Nick Lammers, along with midfielder Kyle Buchwalder, goalkeepers Forrest Marowitz and Brian Graf, defenders Ben Sandalow and Keith Drury, and forward Daniel Wright, the 2013 Tigers are embracing the opportunity to fill those voids and build upon the program's standard of excellence.  

Fortunately, Colorado College does have five starters returning, including all-SCAC performers in senior forward/captain Sean Parham and senior midfielder Ben Glass. Senior midfielder Lorenzo Pozzolini and junior defenders Andrew Worthington and Alec Sowers also provide an important blend of experience and leadership.

"With the core of returning players, which will be supplemented by a handful of superb new players, we should be competitive," head coach Horst Richardson said. "The guys are unbelievably fired up, especially Parham and Worthington, our new captains who are proven leaders."

Parham, who recorded five goals and six assists in 2012, will be a focal point of the offense. The Tigers are hoping senior Brandon Ogilvie will regain the form he showed as a freshman when he struck for four goals. CC's offense also will be looking for contributions from junior forward Toby Sides, sophomore midfielder Max Grossenbacher and sophomore midfielder Ryan Huettel.

The unquestionable strength of the team is in the midfield, where Glass and Pozzolini will be joined by juniors Alec Lee, Alec Martinez, Hunter Martinez and Morgan Wack. Every member of that foursome can contribute defensively and press the attack when given the opportunity.

In the defensive zone, the Tigers must rely on an untested goalkeeper to replace Marowitz and Graf. They also need to identify a replacement for Lammers, who was a force in front of the net. 

Sophomore Ian Horne is the squad's only experienced keeper, having participated in three games for a total of 37.21 minutes a year ago.

Sophomore Tom Crosby and senior Kai Thompson also will compete for playing time in goal.

The untested goalkeepers will benefit from playing behind a solid back line, which is anchored by Worthington and Sowers. Senior Patrick Robinson, who played in all 21 games last season, will likely move into a starting position.

Some of the newest Tigers could earn an opportunity to contribute immediately. Midfielder Alex Weber, a transfer from Babson College, and defender Christian Wulff, who had an opportunity to play Division I soccer at the U.S. Military Academy, could see significant playing time.

Sophomore Trevor Houghton, sidelined in 2012 due to an injury, and freshman Jack McCormick, a two-sport athlete who competes in lacrosse, also could play key roles in the defensive block.

First-year Tigers who could challenge for playing time in the offensive zone include midfielders Caden MacKenzie and Tommy Riley.

The challenging 2013 schedule kicks off with the 15th-Annual Bill Boddington Memorial Tournament, a three day event that includes games against Whitman College and the University of Texas at Dallas.

"Whitman and Texas-Dallas are terrific opening games for us to let us know where we are and what we need to work on," Richardson said.

The Tigers play five non-conference games, including road contests at Capital University and Ohio Wesleyan University, before opening their
SCAC slate against the University of Dallas on Sept. 15.

CC will face each conference opponent twice, including a pair of showdowns each with Southwestern University and Trinity University on back-to-back weekends in early October.

If all goes according to plan, Colorado College will qualify for the conference tournament that begins on Nov. 8 at Southwestern in Georgetown, Texas. A strong performance there could help the Tigers secure the program's 20th appearance in the NCAA playoffs and an opportunity to improve upon last season when they advanced to the second round. 

"The SCAC championship is a six-team tournament, so the first step is to make sure we qualify," Richardson said. "It's a challenging schedule and our expectations are to come close to, equate or surpass the fantastic run that we had last year."