SEASIDE >> It’s not just the new uniforms or the subtle modifications of the team name that will provide a much-needed fresh start for Monterey Bay FC.

An overhauled roster in the off-season, littered with players from all over the world, as well as two from Monterey County, will grace the pitch when the Union embark on their fourth season.

“Guys have taken onus of providing the right atmosphere for wanting to be successful,” Union coach Jordan Stewart said. “There are expectations to what we want to reach as a squad.”

On the heels of a disappointing 8-16-10 season, the Union will open the United Soccer League Championship season on the road on Saturday at San Antonio FC.

Stewart, who took over as the head coach in mid-July after the firing of Frank Yallop, has had an entire off-season to retool a franchise still searching for its first postseason experience.

“When you have a full preseason, it’s easier to send a message across,” Stewart said. “We have been able to work on things rather than trying to change things in midseason, while trying to pick up points to make the playoffs.”

The postseason is lacking from the Union’s resume in their first three years in the USL, although they were still in contention last year until the final two weeks.

Injuries to several key players throughout the year crippled the franchise, leaving Stewart with a lack of depth over the teams’ final 12 matches.

The results were somewhat predictable as Monterey Bay FC won just one match over its final 13, finishing next to last in the Western Conference.

“Obviously I don’t want to talk about the last few years because I wasn’t here,” Stewart said. “But I believe our depth is deeper this year and will hopefully win us a few more games.”

Stewart has brought in players from different leagues around the globe that he believes have expectations to move beyond the USL as their careers continue to unravel.

“The aspirations should be to reach a higher level, whether that is MLS or abroad,” Stewart said. “But when you have team goals, it creates better success as individuals.”

Stewart, who played professionally in England for 15 years before spending four seasons with the San Jose Earthquakes, did not rebuild this franchise for the future, rather the present.

“There should be no excuses if we don’t make the playoffs,” Stewart said. “We have the players we want. It’s up to us as a staff to get them to buy into what success looks like as a team.”

That might not show up immediately as the Union spent the preseason building chemistry and finding combinations that work on the pitch.

Last season Monterey Bay FC endured a team record 11-game winless streak, including a stretch of six matches where it failed to register a goal, finishing with the third worst goal total among the 24 teams in the USL.

“We added a bunch of guys from different parts of the world,” Stewart said. “Everyone has a story they can tell. I think everyone has a different mindset within the structure of the team.”

The former defender understands there will be hurdles in the Union’s path of an eight-month season that could extend to 40 games with the U.S Open Cup and the addition of the Jagermeister Cup.

“Understanding the journey, there will always be bumps in the road,” Stewart said. “But everyone is bonding well together. That helps get results on the field and sends the message more clearly.”

Stewart felt he got exactly what he was looking for during the preseason, giving everyone on the roster minutes, while working on different aspects of the game, which he believes will create an exciting brand of soccer at Cardinale Stadium this season.

“We wanted to implement how we want to play,” Stewart said. “We tried to cram it in over a six-week period. Will there be things to progress on? Sure.”

While Stewart didn’t single out one player who grabbed his attention over the past six weeks, what did please him was how quickly players absorbed the information.

The return of the team’s single-season record holder for goals in Alex Dixon is a good starting point for the Union attack, while former Cal State Monterey Bay midfielder Adrian Rebollar returns for his fourth season as a distributor.

The addition of former Alisal defender Joel Garcia Jr. adds depth to the defense, while Carmel midfielder Pierce Gallaway provides size in the middle with his 6-foot-2 frame.

“We are trying to make sure everyone is on the same page,” Stewart said. “I was pleased with how we executed on the field. We hope to have a clear identity by the fourth or fifth match.”

With so many new faces and coaches in the league, Stewart believes a lot of franchises will need a handful of games before discovering who they are.

“There will be some unknowns,” Stewart said. “You’re still making changes in the first month of the season. Everyone will be figuring each other out. I see a lot of in-game changes.”

With the exception of Dixon and Luther Archimede, the forward position was completely rebuilt with six new faces hoping to provide more of an offensive flair this season.

“What surprised me was how quickly we were able to learn certain situations,” Stewart said. “There was no backing off. When you have that mindset in practice, it helps going into the season.”