When the men’s soccer season begins Thursday at Saint Mary’s, it may mark more than just the start of another season of hopes for Sacramento State. It may mark the return of Hornet soccer to its winning ways.-

Last season, the Hornets finished third in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation with a 5-7 record, 6-12-1 overall.-

So, what has changed since last season to account for the optimism? For the most part, nothing.

Despite a lack of seniors on this year’s squad ?” there are only three ?” the team does feature eight returning starters and 13 letter winners from last season, including MPSF second-team senior goalie Matt McDougall, who last year started all 19 games and often kept the Hornets in contention with a stingy 1.74 goals against average.-

Other key members returning this season will be junior Ryan Rhoads, who led the team with eight goals, and senior Ricky Rodriguez, the team’s leading assist man last season.- Also, junior Eric Ortiz has looked to become a scoring threat with two goals in the team’s two exhibition matches this season.

One major change this season, however, is the number of freshmen on the squad.-

“We have an interesting group of guys,” said head coach Mike Linenberger.- “We’re loaded with juniors and we’ve added eight freshmen this season.”–

Included in that group of freshmen is a big defender out of Sierra Madre’s St. Francis High School.- Jeff Buddenbohn, who is the first high school All-American to sign with the Hornets and was recently named one of the “Top 100 freshmen to keep an eye on” by College Sports News, will bring his physical play and soft kicking touch to the squad.-

While the Hornets seem built for next season, the coaching staff feels that they can compete now in addition to building a strong program for the future.-

“If things fall into place and some things go our way, I expect to compete for a league championship with New Mexico and Denver,” Linenberger said.

-Key home games for the Hornets to make a run at the regular season title this year include Causeway rival UC Davis on Oct. 2 in a non-conference match, a highly-touted Denver team on Oct. 21, and league favorite New Mexico ?” ranked seventh in the national preseason poll by Soccer America ?” on Nov. 6.

Tyler Stalker can be reached at [email protected]