Folsom High’s varsity soccer team has a new coach at the helm as Ray Robitaille takes over for Mike McBride this season.

Robitaille is currently molding the team to play the way he wants them to and they’re doing a fine job so far.

“They’ve bought in,” said Robitaille, who served as an assistant coach under McBride for half of last season. “I’m looking to my six seniors to set the pace and the sense of direction I have for the team, as everyone learns my personality and my mission statement.”

The first thing Robitaille is stressing is team soccer. The coach chose not to mention a single player on his roster as to not single anyone out.

“This isn’t singles tennis,” Robitaille said. “As the season goes on there will be players who stand out and exhibit star quality and I will be glad to talk about them then, but as of right now, I’m bringing a unified front. I’ve got 17 players on the roster and I expect them all to contribute.”

Robitaille’s goal is for his players to master the game. Do things the right way, the way they should be done, and the scoreboard, and in turn, the team’s record, will reflect that. He wants each player to improve their individual skills over the course of the season, as well as working within the tactical format of team play.

It’s a young team with only five seniors and less than half of the 17 on the roster returning from last year’s team, but the coach has high expectations for the group.

“We’re young, but we’re quick, solid in the back and we’ve got some tricks in the middle,” Robitaille said. “It’s a confident group that already believes in the system. We’ve set a high bar for ourselves in terms of team play. I think we’ll do well.”

The team’s six seniors include Ramsey Ataya, Kian Faroughi, Sean Raffetto, Hadyn Rhoades, Marcos Showers and Connor Vickers. Returning juniors include Tanner Chadwell, Aaron Iniguez, Calvin Millett, Drew Whitney and Evan Woodruff.

After playing El Dorado Monday, Folsom travels to Napa today for a 3:30 p.m. game and plays at Natomas tomorrow at 6 p.m.