Fans of Prince Edward County High School’s varsity boys soccer team have come to realize that just because it looks like it might be a rebuilding year on paper, that doesn’t mean it will end up being one on the field.

The Eagles saw 15 players graduate from their 2016 squad and still went 17-3 last season, advancing as far as the regional quarterfinals in the postseason.

This year, Prince Edward features seven seniors, though some have limited soccer experience, seven juniors, seven freshmen and three sophomores.

“It feels like a rebuilding year, but we’re doing OK,” Eagles Head Coach Devin Pierce said.

Entering its Monday contest at Amelia County High School, Prince Edward held a 3-0 record. It defeated host Randolph-Henry High School 7-2 on March 19, routed visiting Cumberland County High School 9-0 on March 16 and topped visiting Bluestone High School 4-1 on March 14.

“We’re starting to click,” Pierce said. “We’re playing better. We didn’t put enough preseason work in, so now that our fitness levels are kind of getting to where they should be, it’s clicking better.”

On offense, the Eagles have a few different players that have emerged as standouts, and they will be led by senior Chaney Sheehan, a key returner.

“Chaney’s in the midfield, but we’ll put him up top at forward sometimes,” Pierce said.

The coach also highlighted sophomore Harry Rust.

“He’s really stepped up,” Pierce said. “He played outside back and center back for us last year, and he’s kind of our utility player this year. He’s played every position on the field so far, but he’ll kind of run the midfield and help us build some offense going forward.”

Another offensive player to watch is Jeffery Hilliard.

“He’s a junior, a one-year returner, but he just provides us with athletic ability where if we can just chuck it down the field, he’ll go and put up a fight for it,” Pierce said.

The coach noted that senior Ryan Lehman has “got some spark to him, so it’s good to see that we’ve got something going forward other than just, ‘Give the ball to Chaney.’”

Additionally, Pierce listed junior Angelo Militello as someone who has skill in possessing the ball.

“He’s not very pacey, but we can play him up top, and he can hold the ball,” the coach said. “So, that will help us to build … offensively.”

On defense, freshman Samuel Detrick will be an important contributor.

“He kind of ballboyed for us as an eighth grader and just hung out with us last year and kind of became a part of the program,” Pierce said. “But he’s playing OK. There’s another senior, Mark Stanley, touched the soccer ball for the first time last year. … He’s a golfer. He’s just a big body that likes contact, so he likes to throw it around. And Zion Lewis in goal — he provides sure hands. It’s weird to see how much potential he has. It’s just completely raw.”

Lewis, a senior, was a standout player on the Prince Edward football team at quarterback.

Pierce said the chemistry of the Eagles soccer team is improved this year compared to last year.

“Two years ago, everyone wanted to pass the ball, and last year, we had some egos that we had to get by, but this year, egos are gone,” he said. “We’ve had some issues so far where we’re trying to tell them to be more selfish, but they won’t (be). So, I like that problem. That’s OK.”

Prince Edward hosts Central Lunenburg High School on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., and the Eagles have some key James River District tests approaching in the first half of April.

“After Spring Break, we play against Nottoway (High School), and then the next Wednesday, we play Goochland (High School),” Pierce said. “They beat us twice last year. We saw them play in the Bruton Jamboree, and they look great. So, if we can hang with them, then we can hang. It will show us if we’re there or not. And if not, then we play them again. We’ll be ready by that second time.”