After watching the Oakland University men’s soccer team play its home exhibition matches last month, it’s immediately apparent that this is a very different team than the one that won the Summit League a year ago.

Finding the players who had a regular role on the 2008 team is much easier than counting all the new faces. You can even count the number of returning starters on one hand.

For the first time in 28 years, three-time Summit league coach of the year Gary Parsons will not be patrolling the sidelines. Taking his place is former OU assistant coach Eric Pogue. This will be Pogue’s first year as head coach but his eighth with the program.

Pogue has had the task of replacing what was by all accounts the team’s greatest strength — a record-setting defense.

Last year’s team featured the past two Summit League Defensive Player of the Year Award winners: goalie Steve Clark (2008) and defender Ian Daniel (2007). Both players have since moved on, along with defender Stew Givens, also a Summit League First Team selection in past seasons.

The team allowed just 11 goals in 20 games for the season in 2008.

As impressive as the awards and the national rankings were, Pogue is fully confident in this year’s defense.

Perhaps the most noticeable difference this season will be in the net, where Mitch Hildebrandt has taken over for Clark, the team’s vocal leader from last season.

Hildebrandt said that that although Clark and his leadership will be missed, this year’s team features a number of players who provide leadership in their own ways.

A redshirt sophomore from Livonia, Hildebrandt will be taking on the full-time starting role for the first time in his career at Oakland and said he is fully prepared to handle the task of shoring up the last line of Oakland’s traditionally strong defense.

Though he won’t have to do it all by himself.

Anchoring Oakland’s defense is senior co-captain Machel James, a 2008 second team All Summit League selection despite playing in only 14 games due to an injury.

The Grizzlies will be counting on a big year from the versatile James, who said he’d be ready. His play in the exhibition season was characterized by near-constant movement and energy, may end up playing multiple positions on the field this season.

“Coach calls me ‘the plugger,’ because I can be plugged in anywhere [in the lineup],” James said.

Whether you call him “plugger” like Coach Pogue or Jombo (James’ nickname from his mother), just know that James said he’s been motivated for this season since last year ended in defeat on penalty kicks in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Oddly enough, a shootout was also the way Oakland lost the Summit League Championship game to the University of Missouri-Kansas City last year.

“I think about it every day, and I cannot wait to play UKMC again,” James said. “This is also my senior year too, so I am very motivated.”

Helping James on defense will be Winston Henderson, Vuk Popovik and James Leutzinger.  

There is something to be gained and lost in Oakland’s midfield and offensive attack. In the midfield, Oakland lost a lot of skill and leadership to graduation, but several younger players demonstrated an ability to take on their roles in the exhibition schedule. Daiki Mori and Jeff Cheslik have both seen significant time as support midfielders, constantly moving and making themselves available for their teammates.

While a number of other players should see significant time in the midfield this season, perhaps the most interesting player to watch will be Leshorn Woods-Henry. A true freshman, Woods-Henry has the speed and skill to cause real problems for opposing defenses.

At the point of attack, the Grizzlies will be without center forward Sebastian Harris, another First-Team All Summit League selection from last year’s squad. Harris’ position will be filled this season by another true freshman, Shane Lyons.

Lyons has impressed his coach and teammates with his play up front so far and provided the winning goal in the Aug. 24 exhibition game against Western Michigan. He will need to make his impact felt this year as the Summit League competition will most likely key in on senior captain Stefan St. Louis, the only returning First Team All-Summit League player.

As Oakland’s leading goal scorer from a year ago, St. Louis knows he will be a marked man this season, but is welcoming the challenge.

“Other teams know what we will try to do [on the attack], but that is why there are 10 other guys out here with me,” St. Louis said.

Oakland’s offense this season will likely center on St. Louis and coach Pogue believes that it should.

“Stefan is one of the most talented players around. His blend of speed and strength makes him very difficult to stop,” Pogue said. “This season we will focus on getting behind the opposing team’s defense.”

Junior Makesi Lewis will join St. Louis and Lyons up front. Lewis, along with James and St. Louis are the only three returning starters. Lewis was a member of the All-Summit League Newcomer Team last season and has looked very comfortable out on the field in a very productive exhibition season.

Oakland was recently ranked second in the preseason Summit League poll. When asked how much stock he put into that ranking, Pogue said not very much.

“We don’t care where we start, just where we finish,” he said.

The players, however, may have a slightly different opinion.

“It’s motivating for me,” James said.

Regardless of who ultimately ends up filling the many roles left up for grabs this season, Pogue said he has full trust in their ability.

“Judging from where we are right now, we are further along than I thought,” Pogue said. “Our defense, led by Machel James, has looked solid. We are replacing a lot of key guys, but a lot of guys have stepped up. We are a blue collar program who just wants to compete with the very best teams in the country.”