The Montezuma-Cortez High School boys soccer team hasn’t fared well in the past.

But after three consecutive one-win seasons, the Panthers made a leap in coach Sean Fitzgerald’s second year in 2014, winning four games.

Fitzgerald and assistant coach Robert Laymon hope the team continues its upward trend this season.

The Panthers lost seven players to graduation, including leading scorer and first-team all-conference selection Taryn Lanier – who is continuing his soccer career at Colorado State University, Pueblo – and all-conference goalie Bridger Brenner.

However, they return six players with varsity experience, including last year’s No. 2 scorer, Manual Martinez, and seniors Aron Engel, Nate Baker and Andrew Laymon, who Fitzgerald sees as the team’s leaders.

With a handful of juniors like Martinez, Jesus Ruiz and Skylar Yarbrough in the mix, Fitzgerald believes team chemistry will be a strong point.

“We have quite a few returners that have been together for three years now,” Fitzgerald said. “They know how the team works, and they’ll be able to pass that along to the freshmen coming in.”

With a winning season as the end goal, the Panthers begin their quest with an opening away game at Palisade on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m.