Fox Chapel can stick to the same starting 11 lineup this season but still manage to adjust to the strength and weaknesses of opposing teams.

That is the luxury that Fox Chapel coach Erik Ingram has with a number of starters versatile enough to play anywhere from forward to center back.

The Foxes return seven starters from last season and are ranked No. 10 in Class AAA in the Post-Gazette preseason rankings. Ingram said five players on his team are capable of playing multiple positions and he plans on moving them around when needed.

"We have so many guys who can play both ways, it's fantastic," Ingram said.

"I have never been a big fan of changing our style of play for the opponent, so now we can just change the lineup as far as who is playing where and adjust to the other team. This is the most versatile team we have had at Fox Chapel."

Returning starting seniors Andy Coulson and John Moore and juniors Thad Madzelonka and Kevin McKamish all can play multiple positions along with new starter, junior Stuart McMurran. Coulson will move between defender and forward, McKamish can play forward and midfield, McMurran will see time on defense and in the midfield and Madzelonka and Moore can play anywhere on the field except goalie.

"Definitely our versatility is going to be our strength followed closely by the fact that Fox Chapel has always had a very organized defense," Ingram said.

"The kids are very strict in the system of play and that has served us well in the past."

Other returning starters for Fox Chapel are sophomore goalkeeper Mike Lucas, senior midfielders Enrico Certo and Kyle Majerick and Enrico's twin, Sal Certo, a defender. Lucas was in a three-way battle last season to start in net and he cemented his position as the starting keeper when he shut out Gateway in the second section game of the season.

"All three goalies did well last year and Lucas had very good practices and then went out and shut out Gateway in a very heated section game and kind of made the position his own at that point," Ingram said.

The Foxes went 13-3-4 last year, 8-1-3 in Section 3-AAA finishingsecond behind Franklin Regional. In the playoffs they defeated Penn-Trafford, 4-3, and advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals where they lost to Peters Township, 3-0, the eventual state champions.

The team captains are Majerick, Coulson, Moore and senior defender Steven Wolfendale. Forward Kory Silberg is battling an injury right now and is in and out of the lineup.

"I think we will have a lot more scoring power this year than we have had in the past," Ingram said.

"We have more forwards and who plays will depend on who has the hot foot. It is a nice problem for a coach to have, having too many guys who can put the ball in the net."

Fox Chapel opens its season tomorrow at 3:30 when it plays host to Southmoreland. The Foxes open section play on Tuesday, playing host to Plum and take on Seneca Valley in a non-section game next week before hosting the Fox Chapel tournament starting Sept. 6.