Three teams to watch
* Signal Mountain: The Eagles made it to the state tournament last year and achieved a No. 1 ranking for a while. They lost nine seniors but will look to build on their success and continue to be competitive.* Cleveland: The Blue Raiders already have three players signed to college scholarships and could potentially have a breakout season.* Arts & Sciences: The Patriots won 11 matches and advanced to the Class A/AA state sectional in 2014 but lost to Signal Mountain. A trip to the state tournament goes through a tough A/AA field.Three players to watch* Cooper Loftin, East Hamilton: The senior defender not only was the Hurricanes' top defender, but he was also among their top goal scorers for a team that went to a Class AAA sectional.* Drew Viscomi, McCallie: Last year he was the only freshman to crack the Best of Preps, a promising start for the Blue Tornado forward who has three seasons left.* Connor Apthorp, Signal Mountain: After losing nine seniors, the Eagles can use the junior forward's leadership and prowess. He had 18 goals and 18 assists last year to help get his team to the state tournament.
The Baylor boys' soccer team will have a different look this season, but that doesn't mean the expectations have changed for a program that has had its fair share of success on the pitch. Despite losing 11 seniors and 13 players total, the Red Raiders have their sights set on being among the state's top four teams for a fifth consecutive year.
This year's journey will come with a new set of challenges, as last year's senior class did not experience anything short of a trip to the state semifinals, won two state titles and led the 2014 state-runner-up campaign.
"I think the first thing you lose, obviously, is experience," Baylor coach Curtis Blair said. "It's guys that have been there and that understand not just when you get there but how much work it takes to get there in terms of the training sessions and being prepared every day mentally and physically to get better. They were also a close-knit group -- almost like family."
Blair said the family mentality is something he is trying to instill as part of the culture at Baylor, and something that will carry his team forward. This year's team will field four seniors that have the "big game" experience to help guide the other seven starters.
"It's all about being patient," Blair said. "Our standards never change, but it's not going to come overnight. We just have to realize that mistakes are going to happen and things may not go the way we want, but as long as we learn and get better, the important thing isn't whether you win in March; it's whether you win in May."
The Red Raiders will look to build with a focus on continually improving with each day in their quest to return to Murfreesboro. The motto is: "Today, what are we doing to get ourselves better than we were yesterday?"
Even with youth and a day-by-day approach, the overall goal of being one of the state's top four teams remains.
"We feel like once you get to the final four, anything can happen at that point," Blair said. "Our goal is always to get to Murfreesboro to Spring Fling. That's our starting point, and then we work backwards. That's our end goal, so let's get better today."
With Baylor set to begin its season next week, Blair said he is excited to see how his players, both experienced and non-experienced, blend on the field and develop a common belief that they can succeed.
"It's about this year and this group of guys and letting them write their own story at the very end," Blair said.
Contact Idris Garcia at sports@timesfreepress.com.