The Cooperstown boys soccer team begins another season Sept. 4 when they host Cherry Valley, but they will have to play the 2001 season without last year's leading scorer.

Junior Nick Laskovski broke his tibia playing basketball during the summer, and is out for the year. Laskovski scored 14 goals a year ago, half of the team's total during a 7-7-4 season which included six overtime games.

Besides Laskovski, Cooperstown also lost graduating seniors Brett Wilhelm, a two-year starter in goal; Stephen Zeek, Jimmy Goodspeed and Dominick Werther.

"We have a lot of question marks," said Cooperstown boys soccer coach Frank Miosek. "We had a young team last year and I thought we had a terrific season considering the age and experience of the team."

Like last year's team, defense should be the strength of this year's team, which has returning seniors Todd Ashley, Brett Pikarsky and Josh Weeks. Brett Ferrando also returns at either a defensive position or goalkeeper.

Reid Snyder and Danny Holmes are a pair of sophomores who played in every game as freshmen, and will play the center/halfback positions. Jake Saracino will play fullback, Hal Barthold a midfield position and Beau Carroll striker and midfield, Miosek said.

Much of the offense will center around the team's two Liams-Liam Dwyer and Liam Hoffman/Murphy. Senior Beau Carroll should also share some of the scoring chances, and Miosek said his midfield group will also look for offensive chances. Dwyer, Hoffman/Murphy and Pikarsky are the tri-captains of this year's team.

"With all the question marks, it will probably take us a half dozen games or so to gel," Miosek said. "We want to get into sectionals and challenge for the league title, but we really have to stay injury free to do that."

Miosek said Mt. Markham, Sauquoit and Hamilton will be the top teams in the Center State Conference, and Cooperstown travels to Mt. Markham Sept. 12 in the third game of the season. Mt. Markham has traditionally been the Redskins' biggest rival as well.

"We're going to be the type of team that attacks off our defense," Miosek said. "We'll look for offensive opportunities off our defensive stance, and we need to capitalize on our offensive chances when we get the chance to score. How well we do that will likely be the key to the season."

Cooperstown boys soccer schedule: Sept. 4: CHERRY VALLEY; Sept. 6: MORRISVILLE; Sept. 12: at Mt. Markham; Sept. 14: at Oppenheim; Sept. 17: Canastota (at Waterville); Sept. 20: HAMILTON; Sept. 22: at Morrisville; Sept. 24: WATERVILLE; Sept. 26: SAUQUOIT; Sept. 29: at Davenport Tournament; Oct. 2: MT. MARKHAM; Oct. 4: RICHFIELD; Oct. 6: at Davenport Tournament; Oct. 9: Canastota (at Waterville); Oct. 11: HAMILTON; Oct. 13: MILFORD; Oct. 16: at Waterville; Oct. 18: at Sauquoit.