SAN DIEGO — You won't find it sifting through last year's box scores, won't be able to see it as you scroll though the schedule tabbed "2020 (Spring 2021)" on San Diego men's soccer's website, one that chronicles a season that was as unconventional as it was a testament to the Toreros' resilience. But it was there — is there — senior Alex Churness emphasizes.

"One big thing we got from (last season) was new camaraderie and friendships within the team," the 2021 All-WCC Preseason Team selection and team captain described. "I felt like I grew a lot closer with my teammates and my coaches."

Amid a pandemic that forced society to stay apart and distance themselves from one another, Churness and his teammates found a way to come together and become more cohesive (safely, of course). A bond they hope will serve them well as they bring a group of new players into the fold and take on a traditional, 18-game schedule this fall.

'I've been pleased with what I've seen so far," head coach Brian Quinn said of his team's preparations for the upcoming season. "I think we're relatively young, so there's going to be a lot of emphasis on our senior leaders and captains to set the tone for the rest of our team."

Those aforementioned senior leaders — Churness and captain Michael Barrow chief among them — will be tasked with guiding the roster through a varied, and largely local non-conference schedule. The Toreros will welcome Lipscomb, UC Riverside, CSU Bakersfield, UC Davis, UC San Diego, and crosstown rival San Diego State to Torero Stadium, and they'll travel to the likes of CSUN, UC Santa Barbara, California Baptist, and Cal State Fullerton. Five home games against four away matches in total, and a mix of opponents that Quinn feels will have his team ready for West Coast Conference play come October 1.

"I think there's three games in particular (we're looking forward to most)," the fourth-year head coach said. "The first game at Santa Barbara…UCSD, this is their first go-around in Division I…and then our local rival San Diego State."

Once they've navigated their non-conference slate, the Toreros will begin play in the always-formidable WCC, hosting Gonzaga, LMU, San Francisco, and Pacific opposite road matchups at Portland, Santa Clara, and Saint Mary's.

"There's always some really good teams in the WCC," Churness said. "The level of play is very high, every game is a tough game, it's a grind, it's a battle…you really need to be physically fit and strong on the ball with everything because without that you can't keep up with the speed of play."

In addition to Churness and Barrow, 17 players are set to return from last year's roster, including nine seniors. Twelve freshmen will join the team as well, a process that Churness described as seamless while lauding the culture that's been created within San Diego men's soccer, one he experienced as a young player before passing it on to this year's crop of athletes.

"It's open arms, taking the freshmen under my wing, making them feel comfortable, because I think that's big part of the experience of playing soccer at USD," he added.

Together, the group will try to play an aggressive style of soccer, one that attacks early on and plays on the front foot, making the most of their home field advantage at Torero Stadium while striving to be a pesky, tough team to beat on the road. Look for Mikey Barrow to anchor the defense, and Ross Johnstone, a two-way player who put together an impressive spring season, to make things happen around midfield and set up assists across the pitch.

"What we emphasize is the ethos of USD as a whole within our athletic department," Quinn said. "Every time you watch all of our teams play, the kids leave everything on the field."

When August 29 rolls around and the Toreros begin their 2021 home schedule against Lipscomb, when they take the field in front of a full-capacity crowd in San Diego for the first time in nearly two years, they likely won't need any extra motivation. Both players and coaches alike spoke at length about how much a packed crowd at Torero Stadium means to them, and detailed how much they're looking forward to the energy their fans bring to each home match. But if they find themselves looking for that extra boost, the Toreros will know where to look.

"We're all so close with each other and it makes it easy to play for the guy next to you," Churness said with pride. "It's like a brotherhood."