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MARQUETTE — The question is up in the air for the Marquette Senior High School boys soccer team — is this a rebuilding year or will it be more of a reloading year?

The Redmen had a wildly successful season last fall, going 21-2 and winning the Upper Peninsula Championship in convincing fashion.

But 11 seniors graduated off that team, more than half the roster. That’s significant for a varsity team that has been able to feature at least a handful of freshmen and sophomores most years.

Max Dawson of Marquette, left, takes a shot at the goal against Chesaning during the Saginaw Heritage Showcase high school boys soccer tournament on Aug. 28, 2021. (Photo courtesy Marquette Senior High School Soccer)

“We have a tough year ahead of us,” MSHS third-year head coach Dan Salmon said in a recent email. “Our current roster has more new players than returning players.”

But among the returnees is senior Max Dawson, who set a school record by scoring 39 goals last season.

He leads a group of eight in all who return, five on offense and three on defense.

“Our offense should pick up right where it left off and they will carry us in a lot of games,” Salmon said. Joining the head coach is assistant coaches Paul Lagrou and Collin Lake.

Joining Dawson as veterans on offense are fellow seniors Ezra Pickard and Isaac Johnson along with junior Ethan Sandstrom and sophomore Kaleb Chipelewski.

“Dawson and Pickard will anchor the offense,” the coach said. “When these two are hot, teams struggle to stop them.”

Defensively, back for another season are senior Evan Sysko, junior Hunter Sandstrom and sophomore Indigo Catalano.

“We have work to do on the defense but the new players coming up are ready,” Salmon said. “I am confident they will be able to fulfill the expectations we require on defense. Sysko and Catalano should both have big seasons.

“The first several games of our season will be some of the toughest all year so we will know early where we stand.”

The Redmen open the fall campaign on Friday when they travel to the Northmen Classic in Petoskey, then quickly return home for a game at the Kaufman Sports Complex at 1 p.m. Saturday against Traverse City West.

“TC West is a perennial powerhouse in boys soccer so it is pretty exciting to open our home schedule against them,” Salmon said.

Boyne City makes the trip north for a 5 p.m. Tuesday game before Marquette heads south of the Mackinac Bridge again for the Alpena Sunrise Challenge on Saturday morning, Aug. 27.

A full schedule is available online at mqtredmen.com/2022-varsity-boys-soccer-schedule-results/.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.