With six starters gone from last year’s team, including a combined 52 goals and 37 assists from Luke Banner and Chris Gentile, and two-time team MVP and four year starter Jason Conklin, Miosek has some retooling to do as the 2007 season opener looms.

``We have some very nice links, but how they will all fit together is yet to be seen,’’ said Miosek, entering his 20th season at Cooperstown. ``The beginning of the season will be a learning process for me and the team.’’

The Redskins, who were 16-4 overall and won their division of the Center State Conference with a 9-1 record, host Class D power Poland in a non-league game on Tuesday, and then play another non-league contest at Milford on Friday, Sept. 7.

Seniors Bobby Bauer, Chris Gulotta, Drew Lierheimer and Quinn Snyder are the four captains of this year’s squad. Gulotta is the leading returning scorer from last year, while Snyder will begin his third season as a defensive starter.

``His decision making, passing and distribution will be a big part of our offense,’’ Miosek said of Gulotta.

A couple of youngsters, sophomore Will Dykstra and freshman Jake Chase will also be an integral part of the team this season, Miosek said.

``Will has all the tools to make the team run smoothly,’’ Miosek said. ``Jake may be young but he demonstrates very good soccer skills that we plan on making part of our overall attack.’’

Miosek said with Conklin gone, he may change his formation to take some of the pressure off the younger players, or move Ryan Huggins up from his sweeper position into the midfield.

``It’s hard to say at this point, I’m still not sure what I’m going to do,’’ he said. ``Huggins has been the anchor of our defense for the past two years but there’s a good chance he’ll be moving up.’’

Miosek said juniors Mac Curran and Ryan Davine could also have an impact this season. Davine will start at an offensive back position, while Curran is competing with Josh Pearlman and Nick Summers for the starting goalkeeper position.

Lucas Spencer, a standout goalie in the mid-1990s at Cooperstown, is working with the trio on their goalkeeping skills, and Matt Grady, another former Cooperstown soccer star, is also a volunteer assistant coach this season.

The Redskins are already fighting the injury bug, as veteran Karl Dykstra will not play this season after summer surgery, and Brock Bell’s return is questionable after tearing an ankle ligament.

Cooperstown imported a soccer player in Portugese foreign exchange student Marcos Soares.

``He will be a nice addition, but where he will fit into the rotation is still a question mark,’’ Miosek said.

Miosek added that Luke Tirrell, Ryan Jacobsen, John Rathbun, Lierheimer and Bauer are all returnees who should all contribute this season.

``As the season evolves, we will try new combinations,’’ Miosek said. ``By the end of September we will have meshed into a very good unit.’’