Junior defender Sean Hohan has earned all-conference honors his first two seasons with the Fighting Scots.

The College of Wooster has improved in the win column each season under the direction of fourth-year head coach Carl Festa. While still young overall, the Fighting Scots are on track for another successful season, but Festa's focus is more on the process and building towards a strong finish at the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.

"I think we've enjoyed a little bit of success and we're looking to build upon the progress we've made," said Festa, who has helped the team to five wins in his first year, six in his second, and nine last season as Wooster went 9-6 and qualified for the inaugural NCAC tourney (top-four teams in regular season). "Now, the expectations have obviously increased. From last year, we bring back a lot of depth and return a number of guys who received all-conference awards, which is a good thing."

"The level of competition, with another successful recruiting class, has pushed the returning players … and with the expectations we've put in place has made a great competitive atmosphere thus far."

Five of the Scots' six all-NCAC honorees from last spring return, however, the one who graduated, attacker Matt Ranck, will be tough to replace. Ranck was the conference's leading goal scorer each of the last two years, netting 45 in 2012 and 37 in 2013.

Festa believes the offense can overcome that loss with a more balanced system, led by veteran attackers Tom Herold, Jack Brown, and Liam Coll as well as offensive-minded midfielders such as PJ Dallman, Jake Bernard, Pat Henderson, Mike Ewanechko, Nate Weltman, Jack Crawley, and Niall Cronin, and some impact freshmen at both positions. Herold has been very productive, totaling 69 points (43 goals, 26 assists) his first two years, while Dallman, another junior, gained an honorable mention spot on the 2013 All-NCAC Team after tallying 21 points (15 goals, 6 assists).

"We always adjust our offensive schemes to benefit the strengths of the current personnel," Festa explained. "This year, we look to be a more up-tempo, free-lance offense with player-driven decision making. The area we are currently focusing in on most is our ability to increase our assisted opportunities on cage."

Junior face-off specialist Max Rubin, who joined Dallman as an honorable mention pick on the all-conference team, is expected to contribute in a similar role. He helped Wooster win possession nearly 60 percent of the time (.582; 160-for-275), often picking up the ball himself as he tallied a team-high 61 groundballs. Sophomore Seth Brown and a newcomer will contend for time in that role as well.

The defensive side of the field features a pair of first-team all-conference standouts in junior defender Sean Hohan and senior goalkeeper Matt Magoon. Hohan, a two-time award winner, anchored last year's close defense, which averaged just 7.40 goals allowed, 25th-lowest across NCAA Div. III, and individually, he recorded 28 caused turnovers and 48 groundballs.

Complementing Hohan will be another all-NCAC selection – senior Dean Marchitelli – and sophomore John McCarthy among others. Junior Robert Friedhoff, who has rehabbed a significant knee injury suffered his freshman campaign, and sophomore John Trainor also return at close defense, while junior John Michael Bogusz will lead the defensive middies, with fellow returnees Seth Brown and senior Ethan Flack providing contributions.

At the long-stick midfielder position, sophomores Patrick Edson and Dan Gorzynski will look to help the defense from up top.

In cage, Magoon comes into the season being a three-year starter and coming off first-team all-NCAC recognition via a .609 save percentage and 7.75 goals against average, however, his position is being challenged by sophomore Aaron Levy and hard-working junior Ben Grombala.

"The biggest story to unfold this pre-season will be the competition at so many positions," said Festa. "The program is in a great position this year, having both talent and depth across the board. It should make for an exciting 2014 season."