However, the Stallions have the attitude that what they might lack with the loss of big-time playmakers from last year's team, they can make up for with better teamwork and hustle.

"We know that not one person is going to score every goal," said senior midfielder Jacob Eganhouse. DeSales opened last Tuesday against Westerville North and plays today at Hilliard Davidson before playing host to Bay Village Bay Tuesday. "Everyone's crashing the goal. Everyone's helping out."

The Stallions lost their top three goal-scorers from last year in Jeremy Gray (23 goals), Luke Froehlich (eight goals) and Nick Kellogg (six goals). They helped DeSales finish 17-4-1 overall and win the CCL at 5-0.

Gray and Froehlich gradu-ated and Kellogg, a senior, opted to focus on basketball instead of returning for a fourth season.

"Last year it was not like we planned that Jeremy Gray would score all those goals," coach Dominic Romanelli said. "We'll have some guys emerge. It's just amazing what a year can do."

The Stallions will be led by senior forward David Harper and junior forward Michael DiCesare. DiCesare had four goals and nine assists last season.

Among returnees, his 17 points trailed only Eganhouse, who had 19 points (3 goals, 13 assists).

Eganhouse and junior Zack Grady will lead the midfielders. The defense could be the Stallions' strength at the beginning of the season, Romanelli said.

Goalkeeper Chris Weisgarber has returned for his senior season and will play behind a defense that also returns seniors Sean Dundon, Zachary Schmidt and Michael Volkers, as well as junior Angelo Pagani.

The roster also includes seniors Gus Hoefer, Tye Jensen, John Marth and Dylan Walls and juniors John Acomb, Gary Cook, Nick Vitullo and Robert Wanner. Sophomore Anthony Tresoline is also on the team.

"We have lots of guys with experience," Eganhouse said. "We just need to work on our chemistry a little bit. I think we really should have everything figured out in the first couple of games."

Last season ended with a 2-1 loss to Dayton Carroll in a state semifinal. DeSales defeated Bexley 2-1 in overtime to win a district championship and then defeated Warsaw River View 4-0 to win a regional championship.

•The girls soccer team lost nine players to graduation from a year ago when it finished 11-6 and won the CCL (5-0).

Lone senior Erin Doone was one of DeSales' top defensive players, but third-year coach Joshua Brader would like to move her forward more.

That decision depends in large part on the development of the younger players that will be getting an opportunity on the defensive side.

"We're still trying to find our identity as a team," said Brader, whose team opened the season last Tuesday at New Albany and plays host to Toledo St. Ursula Academy Saturday. "The kids are working extremely hard. We're going to outwork most of the teams we play."

In addition to Doone, the defense includes juniors Megan Shannon, Elle Murray and Sam Strain and sophomore Maura Hulme.

Freshmen Hannah Clark and Courtney Klosterman also have been added to the defensive mix.

The goalkeeper will be either junior Courtney Somers or sophomore Jordan Barnett.

If the defense can be solidified without using Doone, it will enable her to help an attack that will be very young.

At forward are sophomore Megan McCabe and freshmen Taylor Ross and Alvi Shivley.

The midfield includes juniors Bella Carfagna, Allie Shimer, Melinda Stemen and Mary Wickert as well as sophomores Lindsey Bowman and Alex Elliot.

Last season ended for the Stallions with a 1-0 loss to Westerville North at home in a Division I district semifinal.

Schedules

BOYS SOCCER

Aug. 25 -- at Westerville North

Aug. 27 -- at Hilliard Davidson

Aug. 29 -- vs. Bay Village Bay

Sept. 5 -- vs. Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit

Sept. 8 -- at Worthington Christian

Sept. 12 -- at Dayton Carroll

Sept. 15 -- vs. Hartley

Sept. 17 -- at Worthington Kilbourne

Sept. 24 -- vs. Watterson

Sept. 26 -- vs. New Albany

Sept. 29 -- at St. Charles

Oct. 3 -- vs. Youngstown Mooney

Oct. 8 -- at Dublin Coffman

Oct. 10 -- at Upper Arlington

Oct. 15 -- vs. Dublin Jerome

GIRLS SOCCER

Aug. 25 -- vs. New Albany

Aug. 29 -- vs. Toledo St. Ursula Academy

Sept. 3 -- at Ready

Sept. 5 -- at Sylvania Northview

Sept. 6 -- vs. Columbus School for Girls

Sept. 10 -- vs. Dublin Coffman

Sept. 15 -- at Hartley

Sept. 17 -- vs. Pickerington North

Sept. 19 -- at Cincinnati St. Ursula Academy

Sept. 22 -- Worthington Christian

Sept. 24 -- at Worthington Kilbourne

Oct. 1 -- at Watterson

Oct. 8 -- at Hilliard Davidson

Oct. 10 -- vs. Olentangy Orange

Oct. 15 -- at Dublin Jerome

Oct. 17 -- at Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit

At a glance

Below are the recent results and coming schedules for the DeSales cross country, boys golf, girls golf, boys soccer, girls soccer, girls tennis and volleyball teams:

CROSS COUNTRY

Last Wednesday -- Competed in opener at New Albany Invitational

Sept. 5 -- Circleville Invitational

BOYS GOLF

Aug.17 -- Finished ninth (331) to Dublin Jerome (304) in opener at Mount Vernon Country Club Classic

Aug. 18 -- Finished 20th (342) to Cleveland St. Ignatius (289) at St. Ignatius Invitational at Red Tail

Aug. 19 -- Finished third (329) behind St. Charles (298) and Watterson (318) in CCL tournament at Riviera. Chad Ransom finished sixth (77).

Aug. 20 -- Finished fifth (318) to St. Charles (291) at Warrior/Stallion Invitational at Medallion

Last Monday -- Competed in Columbus Academy Shootout

Last Wednesday -- Competed against Hilliard Darby

Today -- At St. Charles

Monday -- At Colonial Invitational

Tuesday -- At St. Charles

GIRLS GOLF

Aug. 17 -- Finished fourth (342) to Dublin Coffman (314) in opener at Central Ohio Early Birdie Tournament at Minerva Lake

Aug. 20 -- Finished second (342) to Watterson (319) in first round of MOGGL tournament at Echo Springs

Last Tuesday -- Played Watterson

Today -- At Little Turtle vs. New Albany

Saturday -- At Foxfire in second round of MOGGL tournament

BOYS SOCCER

Last Tuesday -- Played Westerville North in opener

Today -- At Hilliard Davidson

Saturday -- Home vs. Bay Village Bay

Sept. 3 -- Home vs. Ready

GIRLS SOCCER

Last Tuesday -- Played New Albany in opener

Saturday -- Home vs. Toledo St. Ursula Academy

Sept. 3 -- At Ready

GIRLS TENNIS

Aug. 20 -- Lost to Canton Central Catholic 3-2 in opener

Last Monday -- Played Hilliard Bradley

Last Wednesday -- Played Granville

Today -- At Dublin Scioto

Monday -- At Olentangy

*Tuesday -- Home vs. Ready

VOLLEYBALL

Saturday -- At Lancaster vs. Lancaster and Glouster Trimble in opener

*Sept. 3 -- Home vs. Columbus School for Girls

*CCL contest