BATESVILLE, Ark. – The top three players in the history of the Lyon College men's soccer program are gone, making a youth movement a near necessity for the Scots.

Steve Banks, Nick Jones and Tim Akin - numbers one, two and three on the Scots' All-Time points list - have been lost to graduation.

A fourth player, second team All-TranSouth defender Tobi Osinowo, has decided to quit playing soccer and has transferred out of the program. Last season's second-leading scorer Peter Smith has also been lost to graduation leaving Lyon (8-8-1 overall and 4-5 in the TranSouth in 2006) with only three true returning starters.

The trio of full-time returning starters are led by sophomore All-TranSouth forward Greg Buford. Buford set the single-season school mark for points (22) as a freshman in '06 and tied the Lyon record for goals (8) in a campaign.

Also returning to the Scots' starting lineup are sophomore keeper Matt Callaway (13 starts in goal) and senior defender/midfielder Kris Koelemay. Senior defender-midfielder Evan Wilson, junior defender Ryan Harness and sophomore middie Craig Cannon all return with some starting experience from '06.

Three freshmen who could make significant contributions to Lyon's success this season are: center back Russell Williams of Little Rock, Ark., midfielder Daniel Young of South Lake, Tex. and Kevin Solomon of Hot Springs, Ark.

The Scots begin the 2007 campaign on Friday at 5:30 p.m. when they host the Central Baptist College Mustangs at Lyon College Soccer Field.