WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Midwestern State is treading new water heading into the fall.
 
True, the Mustangs are coming off their sixth consecutive NCAA Division II postseason appearance and were ranked 14th when the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America released its preseason poll, a poll MSU has been a part of much of the last five seasons.
 
Midwestern also returns a two-time Lone Star Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in senior forward David Freeland, who has accounted for 18 goals and seven assists over the past two seasons.
 
Still, MSU coach Doug Elder sees the season as a rare time as the Mustangs returns just three starters, seven letter winners and two more redshirts. The roster is also flooded with 27 new faces.
 
"We're entering a rebuilding season and we haven't really done that since my second season here," he said. "This will be fun. This is the youngest team we've had since I've been here."
 
The roster features just three seniors, 12 juniors, five sophomores, three redshirt-frosh and 13 true freshmen.
 
Still, the beat has gone on early on in the fall as the Mustangs own exhibition results over Oklahoma City University by a 2-0 margin and over Texas Wesleyan by a 3-1 count.
 
"From what we've seen, we're going to be ok," Elder said. "We haven't been tested and we have to learn to play a little quicker in some areas but I think we are where I expected us to be. We need a lot of guys to gain experience and come together as a team with the right chemistry. A lot of our new guys need to learn to play our system."
 
Elder sees a lot of strengths in his own roster particularly in depth, speed at the top, fitness level, size and goalkeeping.
 
Midwestern State receives its first test of the season Friday night when it plays host to Texas A&M International at the MSU Soccer Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
Here is a position-by-position breakdown for the 2012 season.
 
Goalkeepers
 
Midwestern State will look to a pair of transfers under the direction of 2011 standout starting keeper Michael Wood.
 
Junior Ray Clark transfers in from Tulsa University where he appeared in 16 matches as a true freshman in 2010. He boasted a solid 1.27 goals against averaged boasting four clean sheets.
 
"He has very good experience, is quick and reads the game well," Elder said.
 
Sophomore Nathan Kenyon competed last season for NAIA Houston-Victoria.
 
"Nathan is very good with his hands, has good decision making skills and is very consistent," Elder said. "We have 100-percent confidence in both keepers."
 
Clark and Kenyon are set to split time between the posts but will be pushed by freshman Drake Szczepinski of Rider High School and Nick Petolick, a sophomore transfer from Oral Roberts.
 
Defenders
 
Senior Fernando Garza and sophomore Sam Bartek are the lone returners on the back line for Midwestern State.
 
Both players will man outside back position for the Mustangs this season.
 
Garza started each of MSU's 18 matches last season in the midfield.
 
"Fernando was a pleasant surprise for us last year," Elder said. "He brings consistency at left back, is smart and good on the ball."
 
Bartek appeared in 14 matches with nine starts in 2011as a redshirt freshman.
 
"Sam is physical, strong and very good in the air," Elder said. "He needs to make good decisions to make a move forward this year."
 
Elder is also looking for solid contributions from Issac Pile, a 5-10 junior transfer from Lipscomb, and Jordan Moore, a redshirt-freshman transfer from West Virginia.
 
"Isaac possesses very good speed and is aggressive and athletic," Elder said. "Jordan has been injured during camp but also has very good speed and is good on the ball."
 
Midwestern has had a monopoly on quality central defenders throughout much of the past decade including All-Americans in Daniel Woolard, Allen Thomson and Ryan Spence.
 
The Mustangs are hoping to find that next high level performer out of quartet of quality performers in Michael Brody, Eric Glad, Chad Asher and Jevan Toledo.
 
Brody has shown promise as a junior transfers out of Alabama-Birmingham, while Glad has the size at 6-6 to make an impact as a JC All-American from Pima CC in Arizona.
 
"Brody is a strong and physical with experience and a good frame," Elder said. "Glad needs to adapt to the physical play at the D2 level."
 
Toledo has the rare opportunity to jump into the starting lineup as a true freshman out of Prosper High.
 
"Jevan is a good vocal leader out of the Andromeda Soccer Academy," Elder said. "He is very good on the ball and is good in the air."
 
Asher, who has been fighting injury, has four years of remaining eligibility after starting his collegiate career at the University of Kentucky.
 
Midfielders
 
B.A. Catney is the lone returning letter winner in the midfield, but the Mustangs have added a bevy of talent to help the junior carry the load in 2012.
 
Catney, who scored a goal and assisted on another in 18 appearances last fall, continues to make great strides in the central midfield.
 
"B.A. is just gaining experience and confidence every year," Elder said. "He is playing a lot stronger and physical. B.A. strikes a great ball. When he plays quick, he helps us get the ball forward. He just has such a good knowledge of the game."
 
Sophomore Andrew Power, who transferred from Northern Iowa ACC, has shown great promise in fall camp as he accounted for the Mustangs' first goal in an exhibition win over Oklahoma City.
 
"He is very fit," Elder said. "He is the engine in our midfield and works hard. He can finish when he gets in the box and is good on the tackle."
 
Former Broken Arrow (Okla.) High standout Bryan Santiago is another true freshman threatening to crack the MSU starting rotation.
 
"Bryan is strong on the ball and holds the ball very well," Elder said. "He also distributes very well and sees the field. He has to get more fit and adapt to our style of play in the midfield."
 
Junior Brett Helm and freshman Sylvester Contreras are also in the mix for playing time in the central midfield.
 
Senior Aaron Douthit and true freshman Ben Clarvis have been strong on the wings for the Mustangs.
 
"Douthit is very good on the ball and possesses good soccer knowledge," Elder said of the three-year letterwinning transfer from Oral Roberts. "He can strike and serve a good ball and has the ability to play in the middle or out wide."
 
Clarvis is yet another freshman looking to secure significant playing time.
 
"Ben is a good worker, is fit and plays a simple ball," Elder said.
 
Redshirt freshmen Kwame Adu-wusu and Taylor Brown continue to improve and will see field time for the Mustangs in 2012.
 
Forwards
 
Senior leader David Freeland leads the charge for the Mustangs as one of three returning lettermen the striker position with junior VcMor Eligwe and junior Chase Robertson.
 
"David has good speed and finishes well,” Elder said. "He has great experience and is very dangerous with the ball."
 
Eligwe has proven to be an opportunistic goal scorer accounting for 13 tallies in his first two seasons in the Maroon & Gold.
 
"VcMor creates chances and is always dangerous," Elder said.
 
Robertson scored two goals in 16 matches last season after transferring in from Charleston (W. Va.).
 
"Chase is much improved from last year," Elder said. "He needs to play stronger and with more consistency but he will be a big part of the future of our program."
 
Junior Griff Stratford shows great speed after scoring 11 goals in two seasons at Scottsdale (Ariz.) CC.
 
"Griff makes good runs and causes problems in the back," Elder said. "He also serves a good ball."
 
Sophomore Len Smith gives another quality option up from for the Mustangs. He was prolific goal scorer with 52 goals during his prep career at Frisco's Wakeland High before playing in nine games as a true freshman at the University of Tulsa last season.
 
"Len is a big, strong kid with decent speed," Elder said. "He holds the ball pretty well but needs to polish up a big on his finishing."
 
True freshman Idi Camara had a great summer with the Colorado Rapids Soccer Academy following and incredible prep career at Aurora Central High in Denver, Colo.
 
"Idi is very good on the ball and is simply a good soccer player," Elder said. "He reads the game well, but hasn't been able to stay healthy during camp."