The Mexico soccer boys expect to find a winning formula this season.

The Bulldogs haven’t had a winning season since 2015’s 16-9 campaign but want to return that type of success after going 8-16 a year ago, including a district playoff victory.

Head coach Bill Gleeson said the roster numbers are down a bit but still at a level that the Bulldogs have a good mix of players. With that in mind, and also the fact that Mexico averaged a seven-year low of 1.2 goals scored per game last season, Gleeson said the Bulldogs will have to put the ball in the net to support what should be a solid defense.

“I’m changing up my formation a little bit to try to help with that, putting more numbers forward,” Gleeson said. “Defense also will be a little different because we’ll have a little bit of a different formation.”

Gleeson said Mexico had a chance to employ this new strategy in summer scrimmages it played in Moberly, and it worked well for the most part. There are some parts he said that still need to be “nailed down.”

Some weapons Gleeson expects to have for the adjusted offense are returners Gage Walker, hybrid defender and midfielder Marcos Matuz, and seniors Jacob Hernandez and Bryce Carter. The promising newcomers are Jesus Garcia, who started to bloom for junior varsity last year, and Wyatt Wilson after stepping up his game in summer scrimmages.

Among the eight seniors Mexico has this year are goalkeeper Emille Scanavino, Jibran Rodriguez, Jaylen Johnson, Jacob Hernandez, Brendan McKeown, Jorge Hernandez, Carter and Sebastian Mena, who moved in from the country of Mexico last spring. Gleeson said McKeown should be integral to what the Bulldogs want to accomplish on offense.

“He is a key player because of his ball control and his control of the field,” Gleeson said. “Being able to see, he’s got some great passing so I look to him to be the driving force behind the offense.”

Some areas Gleeson is happy to have nailed down to start the season will be on the defensive side. The Bulldogs allowed 4.2 goals per game last year but had an all-conference and all-district goalkeeper they could rely on in Scanavino, who recorded more than 200 saves.

“I’m sad to say that he is a senior, and I have one more year with him,” Gleeson said while chuckling.

Johnson and Rodriguez are a couple of other seniors who were key on the Mexico defense last year as they each earned all-district honors.

“Jibran Rodriguez is a key returner because he was instrumental in the defense last year because of his quickness and just being able to read,” Gleeson said. “He was able to lead that defense along with Jaylen Johnson.”

Jace DeVault is an underclassman who expects to have a bigger role on the defense for years to come as will Nate Galloway.

“I feel like we have a pretty strong team,” Gleeson said. “If we can stay focused, we could do well. I’d love to have a winning season this year.”