A new year, a new coach, a new team.

Challenge accepted, said new Wiscasset High School boys varsity soccer coach Chris Cossette.

Cossette will take the reins of a successful Wiscasset soccer program for the fall.

His challenge? To rebuild on the fly without the help of any seniors in a tough Mountain Valley Conference.

But to help the Wolverines along this year are a talented cast of underclassmen who starred on the team a year ago, and a handful of juniors who were in starting roles a year ago.

Young? Yes. Inexperienced? Not really.

“We're going to be young,” Cossette said. “We have no seniors as of right now, but (the team) is starting to come together.”

Even with several veterans on the squad, Cossette said he would switch positions to see where the best fit for each player truly is.

“Someone may come in and say 'This is my position,' but it may turn out that no, you're better here or there,” he said. “We have time to see where everyone fits in.”

Unlike last year's team, which was a quick-striking and attack-first squad, this year's team will be happy to let opposing teams crash upon them like waves.

The team will try to wear down the opposition through repeated strikes, before going striking, Cossette said.

The team will rely on returning sophomores like Kevin Lynch, goalkeeper Ethan James and Russell Marr, while juniors like Brycson Grover will patrol the middle of the field.

This year's team will employ a more German-style of play: it will play conservatively and wait for the opposing team to make a mistake.

On offense, the team will remain patient and not to try force goals, Cossette said.

“We're going to focus on controlling our possessions,” he said. “We're not just going to kick the ball hard and chase after it. We're going to try and work each side well and try to break (the opposing team) down.”

By the end of the season Cossette said he hopes the team is not only performing well on the pitch, but in the classroom, too.

“I want to see that they've bonded as a team,” he said. “The wins and losses will take care of themselves.”