"We had a team that at times played brilliant," Esterhuizen said. "We had a young team with a big freshmen class. When we were confident and healthy, we could outplay anyone. But when we had injuries to key players we were in trouble, because we didn't have the depth to overcome. We had to add quality players to give us more depth."

Clarke showed its promise perhaps more in a single defeat than any game it won. In an Oct. 25 match with eventual conference champ Ashford, Clarke lost a 1-0 overtime tilt. It was clear to Esterhuizen that the Crusaders, who scored 27 goals in 2009, needed more firepower.

Fortunately, Clarke does return midfielder Matthew Carlson (Johnston, Iowa), who enters his senior season after leading the team with seven goals last season. The Crusaders also welcome back three-time team MVP Kraig Moore, a senior forward from Kennewick, Wash. Junior forward Mark Dismang (Darien, Ill.) and sophomore defender Mirek Baran (Durban, South Africa) provide experience. The trio of Carlson, Moore and Dismang are part of a potentially powerful forward line.

New arrivals Dino Ramic, the 2008 MCC Newcomer of the Year, and Miguel Silva have found their way back to Clarke in 2010. Ramic, a Pasco, Wash., native, who did not play at Clarke last season, set a Crusader record with 15 goals as a freshman. Silva, an attacking midfielder, helped Clarke to a third-place conference finish in 2007, but spent the past two seasons in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"He's (Silva) got magic in his right foot," Esterhuizen said. "I can see him doing some great things."

Thus, with the combination of talented holdovers and experienced newcomers, Clarke has set its sights on big things in 2010.

"I think we have the tools to win the conference-I really do," Esterhuizen said.

The Clarke women's team also has high expectations for 2010. It returns nine starters from a squad that went 8-7-4 overall and 5-1-2 in MCC play. The Crusaders finished behind only Saint Ambrose in the conference standings.

"The team we had last year was a strong team," Esterhuizen said. "We didn't have as much depth as I would like in key positions. But we had a great season, don't get me wrong. We were over .500. We took second in the conference. I think with this recruiting class, they'll give us the depth to take it to the next level."

Clarke returns all four players that earned some form of all-conference honors last season: junior midfielder Kelsey Gleich (Cottage Grove, Minn.), senior defender Ashley Kass (Dubuque), sophomore forward Bekah Willich (Davenport, Iowa) and senior defender Tarkara Harden (Richland, Wash.). Willich led the team with 23 points (eight goals, seven assists), while Gleich added nine goals. Sophomore forward Morgan Sullivan had a team-high 10 goals.

The Crusaders bring in key freshmen in midfielder Abby Willich (Davenport, Iowa)-the sister of Bekah, defender Brittany Sova (Naperville, Ill.) and outside midfielder Katie Sebastian (Eldridge, Iowa). All four have a chance to compete for playing time this season.

"Abby was one of the top high school players in the state," Esterhuizen said. "She's a great midfielder and defender. I expect her to have an immediate impact."

Hermosillo is a "smart striker" with the ability to put the ball in the net. Meanwhile, Sova and Sebastian will team with Kass, Harden and others as part of a strong defensive club.

New assistant coach Tyler Watkins, who spent last season at NCAA Division III Cornell College, comes with high praise. Watkins, a graduate of Upper Iowa University-where he played goalkeeper, will serve as an assistant for both the men's and women's teams.

"One thing that will really help is we hired one of the best goalkeeper coaches in the state," Esterhuizen said. "He'll make our goalkeepers all the better."

Watkins' arrival should make both soccer programs stingier at the net and perhaps help the women's program, which has posted a 14-7-4 conference mark over past three seasons, soar to even greater heights.

"It's a very young attack, but I think we'll do fantastic this year," Esterhuizen said.