Over the last four seasons, the Sulphur Tors have become one of the top soccer programs in the state.

They won 64 games in that time and made the program’s first state semifinal appearance in February, but they will have to forge a new path this season with two returning starters and four seniors.

While they are still a work in progress, the Tors are 5-1 with a top-10 power rating in Division I.

“We have never had this many new starters,” said Tors head coach Trevor Foolkes. “It is a totally new group. We are just trying to figure out where we are going to put everybody. It is just like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. It has taken a while, but they are getting there. We are getting better at different things each game, but we are not consistent enough yet.”

Sulphur returns forward Robert Campos, who set a school single-season record last season with 30 goals, plus fellow captain Simon Leblanc, who moved from left back to center back.

“They are quiet leaders,” Foolkes said. “They don’t boast about themselves. They very seldom make mistakes on the field, and you saw how Robert changes the game, and Simon is just rock solid on defense.”

The Tors replaced four-year starting goalkeeper Erick Zuniga (0.56 goals allowed) with one of his protégés in junior Ayden Duncan, who has allowed two goals in six games. Sulphur has outscored opponents 15-2 in six games.

“We had Erick Zuniga the last couple of years and he basically coached up the three keepers that we have right now,” Foolkes said. “All three of them are juniors.

“Ayden Duncan usually plays the varsity and the other two rotate in the JV (games). We have a decent crew goalkeeper-wise. He is similar to what we have in the past. He is very skilled with his feet. He is an all-around good athlete. He could play on the field, or play in goal. He is another guy who is a quiet leader. He goes about his business and is no nonsense.”

Up top with Campos are Jasper Grimball and Ricardo Silva, while Paxton VanMeter, Aiden Sargent, Tim Khusnullin and Antonio Cardoba make up the all-new midfield.

“I think offensively we might be a little stronger this year than last year,” Foolkes said. “We are trying to grow and develop the midfield and defense.”

Brennan Dearien, Baylor Guillory and Ethan Deville make up the defensive backs along with Leblanc.

Since a 2-0 loss to Neville at the Pineville tournament on Nov. 16, the Tors have won four consecutive games, including a 2-0 win over fellow 2023 semifinalist St. Louis Catholic (0-1-1) on Wednesday.

The Tors were more aggressive in the second half with seven shots, but St. Louis senior goalkeeper Noah Ellender (7 saves) came up with several big saves.

“Each game is different,” Foolkes said. “I thought our intensity was better. The pace of our play was a little better. When we needed some composure, it was better tonight.

“Our finishing around the goal wasn’t the greatest, but each game is different. When we play St. Louis, it is always different than we would play like a Barbe or a team like that.

“It is a new group and we really don’t know what to expect from them. But as the game went on today, we got more into the game on the offensive side.”

A minute into the second half, Silva tried to score on a cross from Campos but was stopped by Ellender. In the 68th minute, Ellender leaped up to stop Cordoba’s 25-yard attempt.

Campos scored the Tors’ first goal in the 12th minute on a penalty kick and had a hand in the second 2 minutes later. Campos crossed the ball from right to left, and it was deflected into the net by a St. Louis defender.

St. Louis’ (0-1-1) Drake Hinton sent a pass threw the 6-yard box, but the Saints couldn’t get a foot on the ball in the 36th minute.