Steeped in tradition and the propensity for turning out upper-echelon squads, the ceiling for success the Moon Area boys' soccer team possesses is higher than most.

But just because the Tigers typically earn a healthy share of wins doesn't make them immune to turnover and uncertainty, two facets of the game the team is dealing with this season.

A WPIAL quarterfinalist a year ago, Moon has begun the season with a lineup that, while owning plenty of talent and potential, is lacking experience. The Tigers bid good-bye to a pair of all-section players who graduated,outside midfielder Sam Engel and center fullback Nico Marocco, and a handful of other two- and three-year starters.

This season, nearly every one of the five returning starters played only complementary roles last season. It's a situation that presents the Tigers a significant challenge.

"The thing is, the guys we have coming back were all sort of a supporting cast," Moon coach John Arnold said. "Those guys this year for the first time have to step into that role. That's kind of our test this year, how quickly kids can step in and make a difference."

Thus far, the results have been mixed. Moon (1-2-1, 0-1 in Section 5-AAA) owns a win against Brashear, a tie with Sewickley Academy, a loss to Center and a loss to Peters Township Tuesday in its section opener. It was a difficult quartet of opening games for the Tigers, as all four opponents were ranked in their respective classes.

Luckily, as question marks abound in the early part of the season, one of them does not center on talent in the net. In senior Chris Zier, the Tigers boast one of the premier goalkeepers in the WPIAL. A three-year starter, Zier began to make a name for himself last year, and was accordingly selected to the all-section team.

"People think very highly of Chris," said Arnold, a former Moon goalkeeper himself. "He's a very athletic kid who makes saves other high school goalies don't. He's a player whom everybody is keeping an eye on, but you need to have a strong team in front of you to win games, too."

Arnold is hoping for exactly that. Along with Zier, Arnold's list of returning starters includes senior midfielders Bill Elchik and Andrew Eidberger, junior midfielder Kevin Morgan and senior forward Richie Smallis.

Because the midfield returns the most talent, it's an area the Tigers look at as being a potential strength, one that could permeate to other positions. In particular, the center of the Tigers midfield is something they will build around.

Much of the play in that area goes through Elchik, but also rotating in those positions are junior Daniel Martin, freshman A.J. McNary and junior Patrick Gehring, a transfer from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. McNary is a player to watch. He assisted on both of the Tigers goals against Sewickley, and tallied a goal and an assist against Brashear.

That group will look to set up a set of forwards led by Smallis, the lone senior of the bunch. Joining him are junior Mason La- Caria, and sophomores Matt McCready and Umar Moore.

The defense is also underclassmen-dominated with junior right fullback John Garver, junior center fullback Dan Martin and sophomore left fullback Brandon LoPresti.

But much the case at most every position, "A lot of the younger guys stepping in to contribute are inexperienced," Arnold said.

It's that reason precisely why Arnold won't hit the panic button if the Tigers struggle the first few weeks. While many of their counterparts will counter with a large contingent of key multi-year starting players, the Tigers will more or less be a work in progress.

And as quickly as the team progresses, the better their chances are at getting back to the playoffs.

"This season is about stepping into these roles. Hopefully, our players step up," Arnold said. "We'll have our hands full getting out of our section and into the playoffs, but we're going to fight with everything we have."

Moon Area High School's Andrew Eidberger, right, battles Canon-McMillan's Ben Ellis for a loose ball in action last season.