Redmond boys’ soccer coach Pat Scheibe lost a lot of senior talent last spring to graduation.

But for a program coming off a solid 11-2-1 season, including winning seven straight to close out the regular season before losing 2-0 to Bothell in the first round of the one-and-done 4A Kingco tournament, Scheibe relishes the challenge to start fresh.

“I’ve been looking forward to this since the last game of last year,” he admitted. “Last year I had a lot of kids who were really well-established through the program… but I’ve been really looking forward to having a bunch of kids that have to go to square one and build them up from the beginning.”

YOUNG GUNS

Even with an largely inexperienced squad, Redmond still has a number of proven athletes starting on the field.

One of them is senior Felipe Barros, a third-year varsity letterwinner whose powerful lower body earned him the kicking position on the Mustangs’ football team last fall.

“Felipe was second-team all-Kingco last year (in soccer),” noted Scheibe. “He’s got a lot of positive energy, a great kid and good leader on and off the field.”

Another proven leader, whose season got off to an inauspicious start, is senior midfielder/defender Chase Halen, who tore a ligament in his ankle last Saturday and will be out indefinitely.

“He’s a stalwart,” Scheibe said of Halen. “He’ll still be at the practices and he’s going to be a contributor in a lot of different ways this year.”

Finally, a lot will be expected of the starting goalkeeper Trevor Massengale, a junior who allowed just three goals in 380 minutes as a backup keeper last season for the Mustangs.

“Our team has allowed the least goals the last few seasons in Kingco, so I’m hoping to continue that this year,” Massengale said. “We don’t have as much talent as some teams this year, but all our players are dedicated and willing to work hard. Hopefully we can pull together and play our way into the playoffs.”

Barros also believes a postseason berth is in store for the young Mustangs.

“My goal is for us to go as far as (we) can … and make my teammates better,” he said. “I’m pretty sure we’re going to come out as a team and get to the playoffs.”

SPIRITED BUNCH

One thing that has stood out to Scheibe thus far in the season is the high level of team chemistry in his young squad.

“We have a really strong team spirit,” he said.” These guys really get along together, have fun, and push each other to improve on the field.”

And if you followed last year’s Redmond JV team, that’s not hard to believe. The squad ended up being the best in the league, finishing at 13-1-1. Now this season, a number of talented athletes from that JV team are getting a crack at starting at the varsity level.

“Kingco 4A is always a challenge,” Scheibe said. “It’ll be fun to see how the kids respond to the challenges of playing varsity.”

REDMOND SOCCER AT A GLANCE

REDMOND MUSTANGS

• Head coach: Patrick Scheibe, 15th season

• Last year: 8-2 in Kingco, tied for first; 11-2-1 overall

• 2009 turnout: 58.

Key returners

• Sr. Chase Halen, M/D: Team captain suffered ankle injury last week. Key for Mustangs to get him back healthy.

• Sr. Felipe Barros, M/F: Kicker for Mustangs football team will now be focused on pounding soccer balls into the net. A great role model who brings positive energy to a young team.

• Jr. Trevor Massengale, GK: Coach has raised expectations of him after a successful backup goalie campaign as a sophomore.

Top newcomers

• Sr. Jared Alexander, D: Six-foot-six-inch basketball star for the Mustangs will use his big frame and long legs to anchor the defense.

• Jr. Victor Martinez: Led the JV squad last season in offensive points with eight goals and six assists for the Mustangs.

DID YOU KNOW?

Redmond topped the league last season with seven all-Kingco selections, with the only returner being midfielder Felipe Barros, who made second-team.

COACH’S QUOTE

“We got a lot of young kids coming in that are getting their first (varsity) experience. It’s more of a challenge than we’ve had in the past, but that’s also part of the fun … It’s a lot more of a true coaching opportunity, and I’m excited about that.”

— PAT SCHEIBE on managing his young team