Boys soccer has reached the Super Sectional round of the IHSA tournament in each of the last three seasons but this year may be somewhat of a rebuilding year.

“We do expect some good senior leadership but it will be more of a working process,” coach Franz Calixte said. “Last year, all the seniors had played considerably the year before which is not the case this year. Leadership develops, it’s not just given.”

One player who the team will rely on this season is senior defender Ben Sollinger.

“I think I’m going to take on a much bigger leadership role,” Sollinger said. “It’s not going to be all seniors like it was last year, they’re going to be in lot of new guys on the team so I think it’s going to be up to us returners to step up and show them how the varsity program works in the how we play.”

With only seven returning players, it may take some time for the team to find their groove, but Calixte is excited about the talent coming to the varsity level.

“We’ll have an exciting brand of soccer,” Calixte said. “We’ve got a lot of new, individual talent that will be fun to watch.”

The Kits will take the field for the third time this season at home against Mather. The game is part of the Evanston tournament, a round robin tournament that also will feature Payton College Prep and Lake Forest Academy. Last year the tournament featured the same four teams and Evanston beat Mather 6-0.