When fall sports teams reported for practice in August, their preseason routines began. But for the men’s soccer team, whose 2009 season ended in disappointment, the work began much earlier—November 8, to be exact.

“We really thought we underachieved last year with the talent and dedication that we had as a team,” senior captain Alex Neumann said. “That being said, from that last day of the season, the next day was the first day of this season.”

Last year, the Bears went 9-7-3, failing to reach the top of the University Athletic Association or receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. However, the team continued to work with one another throughout the remainder of the school year, focusing on playing and fitness, a large component of the team’s philosophy.

“Our goals were not just to come in fit but to have everyone improving their individual games, which would help us, in turn, improve the team game,” Neumann said. “The off-season was where we did a lot of work individually, and now we’re bringing it all together as a team.”

The identity of this year’s squad is noticeably different after the loss of three crucial graduates: captain Nat Zenner, leading scorer and co-captain John Hengel and goalie John Smelcer. Although the incoming freshmen class is one of the largest in recent years, the team is not looking to address those holes specifically. According to head coach Joe Clarke, the focus remains on which combinations of players work best together.

“I think every team is a brand new team. The experience that the returning players bring is just part of the brand new team,” Clarke said. “How a team plays from one year to the next could be completely different just based on the resources that you have.”

In Smelcer’s absence, Clarke added an additional goalkeeping coach to work with assistant coach Jeff Pomranka in preparing the team’s numerous goalies. Three freshmen goalies reported for tryouts this year and one, Jonathan Jebson, looks to contend with senior Andrew Serio for the starting job.

“Two goalies, [Serio and Jebson], have separated themselves from the other three quite a bit. There’s a real battle. [Jebson’s] team won the academy national championship, which is the highest level you can play in the under-18 age group.”

The Bears will likely focus on a formation of four defenders, four midfielders and two forwards. However, due to both experience and depth at many positions, this line-up has the potential for flexibility. The team’s back line of Neumann, co-captain David Klein and fellow seniors Harry Beddo and Randall Schoen remains intact. Beddo, whom Neumann described as a “jack of all trades,” may move forward.

“We’re always looking if it’s possible to move Harry out of the back more often and put him where he can score more goals,” Clarke said.

Junior Michael Chamberlin and senior Cody Costakis will likely hold the center midfield positions. Positions on the wings remain open.

“Right now, I know we’re just trying to figure out not necessarily who the best players are, we’re trying to find out who’s going to play well together,” Costakis said. “We’re not going to know all the answers until we at least have a few games.”

During the 2009 season, an area where the team noticeably struggled was scoring. With the departure of Hengel, the team’s leading scorer, the coaches are focusing on which combinations of forwards work best together. Both Neumann and Clarke stressed the benefits of the depth they see on the wings and at forward.

“We’re trying right now a lot of different forward combinations up top. Losing Johnny, those two positions are really up in the air. We’re really trying to see which guys can gel together and work together and be good duos,” Neumann said.

Long-term, the Bears hope to be at the top of the UAA and are ranked second in a recent preseason conference coaches’ poll. While the team did not place particular significance on that ranking, performance in the conference is often an indicator of the success of a season.

“Goals-wise, everyone from last year was pretty disappointed with how things went, we did not achieve what we planned on doing,” Costakis said. “The broadest goal is to be better than last year and get better results than last year, but then winning the UAA is always a goal.”

The Bears open their season tonight against Webster University at 7 p.m. at Francis Field.