Enumclaw High didn’t lose its entire boys soccer team to graduation, but some major pieces of the puzzle disappeared.

But coach Skip Ashley isn’t complaining. Instead, he’s high on the group of underclassmen who have grown up in the program together. That’s a common theme at EHS, where there is again a big enough turnout to allow for varsity, junior varsity and C teams this spring. Fifteen seniors grace this year’s team and there are 14 freshmen who are beginning the process.

Ashley isn’t without experience, counting on leadership from four seniors who were in the starting lineup last year. They are forward Dylan Riley, midfielder Luke Andrew, defender NJ Dvorak and Caleb Flatt.

Ashley allows the talent on his roster to dictate the team’s style of play and sees this group of Hornets as a bit defensive-minded.

This year’s Hornets will play six home games, preferring to build a nonleague schedule against teams that play on artificial surfaces. The Hornets are among a number of teams that play on grass and Ashley would rather have his troops experienced on synthetic surfaces.

The Hornets begin the season Saturday at Auburn, where they will be paired against 4A Tahoma and Auburn Riverside. The season kicks off Tuesday with a nonleague home game against Yelm.