POTSDAM -- In his first season as the head coach of the SUNY Potsdam men's soccer team, Adam Parker was just trying to instill a competitive and professional attitude in his players.

Despite finishing with a 2-13-2 overall record, 1-8 in the SUNYAC, he accomplished his goal. The Bears played most of their opponents down to the wire and lost several heartbreakers late. That was last year. With 10 returning letterwinners and 15 newcomers, Parker's new message is simple: Take it to the next level.

"This year we'll be a lot more demanding," said Parker. "We'll be looking more at results than just how we're carrying ourselves. With so many young guys we need to get to the level of college soccer from high school right away."

Parker and his first-year assistant, brother Alex, intend to use the Bears' nonconference contests to evaluate and adjust the lineup in preparation for their SUNYAC schedule.

"Our nonconference season is probably going to have lots of ups and downs," Parker said. "We really need to move guys around and see who we are and how quickly the young guys are going to develop. Then if we're playing solid going into SUNYAC's, there's no reason why we can't at least be in the middle of the pack."

On the field, Potsdam will be led by senior captains Chris Mack (South Glens Falls, N.Y./South Glens Falls) and A.J. Ramirez (Glens Falls, N.Y./Glens Falls). Mack, a defender, started 14 games last season and finished tied for the team lead in scoring (2 goals-2 assists-6 points). Ramirez, a midfielder who was the team's MVP last season, started 16 games and led the team with three goals.

Two new faces standout among the Bears' forwards this season. Freshman Stephen Auyer (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) and Eduardo Figueroa (Rochester, N.Y./Dr. Freddie Thomas) look to give Potsdam the scoring punch they lacked last season.

"I think Stephen and Eduardo are probably two of the most dangerous forwards they've ever had here at Potsdam," Parker said. "They've both played Empire United, which is one of the biggest clubs in New York State. They've got a lot of experience. They are the type of players we're trying to recruit now, from the bigger and better clubs and high schools in the state."

Senior Chris Nieves (Saratoga, N.Y./South Glens Falls) is back. The veteran started 14 games last year, recording a goal and an assist. Nieves has impressed his coach in the preseason.

"We used him at forward last season because we knew he was a workhorse and he was going to give us everything he had," Parker said. "Now he's more developed. He's a better ball striker and has scored a bunch of goals in our scrimmages."

Freshman Cliff Bondi (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland) adds his dangerous speed and creativity to the forward ranks. Junior John Remington (Brant Lake, N.Y./North Warren), the Offensive Player of the Year at Adirondack Community College last season, gives Potsdam's offense even more depth.

Joining Ramirez at center midfield are sophomore Alessio Vitale (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) and freshman Jose Bustamante (Ossining, N.Y./Hendrick Hudson). Vitale and Bustamante have played very well in the preseason.

On the left side, left-footed freshman Travis Jordan (Canton, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams) has surprised his coaches with his technical ability. Junior Jeff Cyrus (Burnt Hills, N.Y./Burnt Hills), a transfer from Oneonta, will see some time on the right side, as will senior Mark McCloskey (Tully, N.Y./Tully) and freshman Paul Gabriel (Greenvale, N.Y./North Shore). Freshman Matt Cleaver (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown), who's returning from an injury, and juniors Zack LaDue (Cohoes, N.Y./Cohoes) and Mario Balzano (Johnstown, N.Y./Johnstown) round out the midfield corps.

On defense, junior Vic Colasacco (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside) will join Mack in the center. Colasacco started 14 games for the Bears in 2010. Freshman Pat Cleaver (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown), Matt's brother, looks to be the starter on the right side with Jonathan Marra (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) fighting for some time. Senior Billy Sahler (Greenwood Lake, N.Y./Tuxedo), junior Sean Atkinson (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem East), and freshman Conor Engle (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn) will battle it out for playing time on the left side.

In goal, junior Joe Glackin (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) will retain his starting spot for the third-straight season. Glackin started 15 of the Bears' 17 contests in 2010, recording three shutouts and a 2.17 goals-against-average. Senior Evan Smith (South Glens Falls, N.Y./South Glens Falls) and freshman Mitchell Lee (Seoul, South Korea/Seoul American) will serve as backups.

Potsdam opens its 2011 season in Newton, Mass., when the Bears face Baruch College on Sept. 3, in the first round of the Lasell Kick-Off Classic. The following weekend Potsdam hosts the first Bears Tournament. In addition to the usual challenging SUNYAC schedule, the Bears will face Liberty League foes Clarkson, St. Lawrence, and R.P.I. as well as local rival SUNY Canton and the Empire 8's St. John Fisher.