The thought is mind-boggling for Baylor coach Jimmy Weekley.

Replacing eight starters and 11 seniors from a team that went 17-1-1 and advanced to the Division II-AA state semifinals, Weekley looked at 2009 as a rebuilding year.

The Lady Red Raiders instead are 16-0-1 and will face Pope John Paul II -- the team they tied -- in the state semifinals Thursday at 7 p.m. on their home field.

"I knew the talent was there, but I didn't know how they would mesh or how they would fit," Weekley said. "I thought we would be solid, but with the region we're in, I didn't know what to expect.

"I'm just proud of the girls -- their willingness to be coached and work hard on a daily basis. There was a lot of uncertainty coming into the season, but the girls jelled together over the course of the year to make us a better team."

Baylor is playing this season with only one senior starter -- Carissa Sanchez, a 2008 starter -- two juniors and "a bunch of sophomores," in Weekley's words.

"We have eight girls that are starting this year that didn't start last year," he said. "All of a sudden, they're starters. To change that many people is drastic, but credit goes to the girls and how hard they worked offseason-wise."

The sophomores have made their presence felt. McKenzie Thomas, who leads the team with 18 goals and is tied with Sanchez for the assists lead with six, started sporadically as a freshman. McKenzie's twin, Peyton Thomas, has eight goals, and sophomore forward Chloe Brackett has seven goals and five assists.

Junior Teni Butler started every game last season, and classmate Alex Cannon showed her versatility by moving from forward a year ago to become one of the team's top defenders.

Weekley isn't sure if his players realize the stage they're on -- or if they even care.

"I wish I could say yes," he said with a laugh. "I think right now they're showing up and playing, not aware of what's at stake. They just really enjoy playing, and they have a knack for showing up and competing. That concerns me a little bit as a coach -- that they're still young and don't recognize the situation -- but sometimes it's a positive as far as nerves are concerned.

"We have a formidable foe and anything can happen, but I'm proud of the young girls for stepping up."