For the first time since 2005, coach Randy Rosser won't have the pleasure of watching Brandi Vega making life miserable for opposing defenses.
No worries says Rosser, who returns 11 players from last year's team that went 10-8-2 and reached the playoffs only to be ousted by Reed in the first round.
"When you have a player like Brandi, she becomes a target player," said Rosser, whose team plays at Reed on Tuesday after opening with a 6-0 win over McQueen. "The opposing team is looking to find her.
"There is always somebody new coming along. We have some talent out there. There is nobody on this team that can't play soccer. We haven't changed our philosophy. We're playing the same style we always have. The difference is we won't be as explosive on the attack."
Midfielder Tyler Musselman (5 goals, 4 assists), midfielder-defender Samantha Fishburn (3-6), forward Mariah Tompkins (5-3), midfielder-defender (3-6), midfielder Megan Jackson (3-4), midfielder-forward Kate Schulz (3-2), fullback Emily Field (3-1), fullback Natalie Stevens (3-1) and midfielder Brenda Luquin (2-3) are the top scoring returners.
Other returnees are fullback Nicole Updegrove, fullback Ashley Turner, midfielder Caitlin Jones.
Two of the top newcomers are sophomores. Arran Rumbaugh, a forward, and Eliza Matley, a midfielder, have impressed Rosser with their offensive skills. Also new to the team are midfielder Kaitlyn Holmes, fullback Brianna McCord and Alli Cowen, a forward-defender.
Vega was Carson's biggest and best option last year. This year, the scoring will be more spread out and Rosser said that's fine. He has confidence in his team's ability to find the back of the net.
Having so many returnees will make Rosser's job a little less stressful.
"Many know what to expect," Rosser said. "They know what to expect in terms of style of play."
Rosser's biggest concern is in goal. Jen Johnson suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against South Tahoe, and she isn't expected to play this year, either.
That leaves the goaltending to two freshman - Emily Heller and Kenzie Tillitt. Not exactly what a coach likes to see, though Rosser said his young goalies are talented, but young.
"It's tough," he said. "We don't have maturity back there. Jen had see so much action. We don't have anybody to run the defense. Before she tore her ACL, she was one of the top goalies around."
Carson's goal, as always, is to make the playoffs. Rosser believes it could be the same cast of characters again, meaning Douglas, South Tahoe, Galena and Carson.
"From what I know, Douglas is young with a lot of sophomores and juniors," he said. "They should be solid. I heard that South Tahoe's goalie is hurt, and she makes them very competitive. Manogue could pop in there. I don't know much about Fallon."