Idaho State soccer is now Maria Sanchez’s team.

After the Bengals lost Amanda Ellsworth, the Big Sky Conference’s all-time leading scorer, to graduation, Sanchez is the newfound centerpiece of Idaho State. Head coach Allison Gibson and the Bengals will ride on the shoulders of the sophomore from American Falls.

But if ISU is going to be successful (i.e. win a league title), it’s going to take a heck of a lot more than Sanchez. She’s just the start.

She’ll need assistance from a roster that boasts 13 newcomers. And with such heavy roster upheaval, Gibson is still trying to figure out the dynamics of her team. There are a lot of unknowns.

“It’s something different. It’s not super mainstream, which it’s been for us the last few years,” Gibson said. ‘It’s going to be a lot of coaching this year, a lot of directing.”

Other major ISU soccer storylines as the Bengals close in on their season opener at home Aug. 21 versus Missouri State are:

A CRAZY SUMMER FOR SANCHEZ: In June, Sanchez played for Mexico in the Women’s World Cup in Canada. The El Tri went 0-2-1, but Sanchez wasn’t done.

She traveled back to Canada with the Mexican Women’s National Team for the Pan Am Games in July. Mexico defeated Canada 2-1 to claim a bronze medal on July 24.

Sanchez’s duties with Mexican soccer are far from over. She’ll play with Mexico in the 2015 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship this December in Honduras.

In fact, Sanchez may leave Idaho State’s fall camp in the preseason to workout with Mexico’s U-20 team. In the long run, it’s great for ISU soccer. But in the short term, it may hinder a team with lots of new faces as they try to coalesce into a solid unit.

Make no mistake, though, Sanchez is fully invested in Idaho State.

“Just getting that championship, that’s all of our goal,” Sanchez said. “Losing the championship last year, it just motivates us this year to get it. You have to fight for your position. It’s not guaranteed.”

NOT RELYING JUST ON SANCHEZ: As a freshman, Sanchez finished fourth in the Big Sky with seven goals and first in assists with eight. Now that she’s the focal point of the offense, expect those numbers to multiply.

But even after the opening day of camp, Gibson was quick to point out that she’s encouraging her players to develop other attacking options.

“Everyone is drawn to her. Everyone wants to play the ball to her,” Gibson said of Sanchez. “And she does such a tremendous job of getting open that she’s always an option. ... I don’t think we can avoid it. I think it’s going to be a good thing. ... My biggest concern is how do we play on her off day?”

FINDING A STARTING GOALKEEPER: It’s Idaho State’s No. 1 goal of fall camp. The Bengals were in the bottom third of the Big Sky a year ago in goals allowed per game. Many times, they were able to overcome a sub-par defensive effort with a powerful offense.

But with Ellsworth gone, the Bengals may lack some offensive punch (at least early on). A goalkeeper can help make sure the defense keeps the other team’s offense at bay.

ISU’s options are senior Sheridan Hapsic, who has started 50 games in her career, sophomore Shawna Hennings and freshman Renata Masciarelli Orozco.

NEVER FORGETTING HOW LAST YEAR ENDED: ISU may have the look of an entirely different team, but there are several key returners. Players like Katherine Roberts, Lauren Bermudez, Vanessa Cabilan, Kayla Mizo and Whitney Peterson haven’t forgotten the 2-1 loss to Northern Arizona in the Big Sky championship game last November.

“I still wake up and think about that game,” Roberts said. “It does bother me. But it’s in a different way than it was. Now it’s like you use it as motivation. ... This year we’re going to make it happen.”