King’s Fork High School boys’ soccer coach Michel Bilé is not expecting to experience déjà vu this season.

The Bulldogs went 5-10 last year, and their season ended with a loss to Denbigh High School in the Ironclad Conference tournament semifinals.

“I believe they’re going to perform better than last year,” Bilé said.

Through three games this season, King’s Fork is 1-2, with its most recent game being a 2-1 victory over visiting Western Branch High School on Tuesday.

The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard via an own goal by the Bruins and a goal by junior William Lou.

On March 17, King’s Fork opened its season with a 2-1 loss to visiting Hickory High School. Senior Deshaun Wilson gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead, the Hawks tied it up in the second half and later put in the winning goal approximately eight and a half minutes into overtime.

The next day, the Bulldogs fell 3-1 to host Indian River High School, with junior Nicholas Griffin providing their lone goal. Despite the loss, Bilé liked what he saw from his team.

“Based on my assessment, it was a great performance,” he said. “We played Hickory very hard that Thursday and that Friday, we had another game.”

Good conditioning and avoiding injury will be keys for the Bulldogs as they get into the season because, as Bilé noted, “we don’t have a deep bench. We only have 14 field players.”

King’s Fork’s 2016 roster includes six juniors, six sophomores, three seniors and a freshman.

Some key Bulldogs from last year are not back, including Jeremy Woods and Hugh Long, who graduated, junior Garrett Fuller, who opted not to return, and junior Aurelio De La Villa, who returned to Spain.

“We’ve lost a couple players to transfers to Nansemond River (High School),” Bilé said, referring to juniors Sterling McGee and David Miller.

Despite these losses, a core remains that Bilé said he believes can compete for a Conference 17 championship, “so long as they stay healthy.”

He will be counting on his trio of seniors for leadership — Kenwood Harris, Drequan Wilson and Deshaun Wilson.

Bilé said he moves them to different positions on the field, depending on where the need is.

He praised Harris for being an all-around player that can apply his speed on the offensive side for quick strikes but can also use his speed to good effect on defense.

“When you play him in the middle, he’s able to advance quickly and join the attack and come back,” Bilé said.

As for Drequan Wilson, the coach said that for the past couple of years, “Most teams tend to double- and triple-team Drequan.”

He, too, has impressive speed, advancing and retreating quickly in the midfield, and he has an impressive leaping ability.

Bilé likened Deshaun Wilson to a track star who also draws multiple defenders. When King’s Fork is playing a team with a lot of speed, Bilé brings Wilson back on defense.

Among the up-and-coming Bulldogs, Bilé pointed to sophomore attacking midfielder Caleb Harris, sophomore defender Jean-Mathias Bilé, midfielder William Lou, junior Nadim Barakat, who can play both offense and defense, and junior goalkeeper Kai Lakes, who has already blocked a penalty kick this season.

The coach cited Great Bridge High School, Churchland High School and Woodrow Wilson High School as some of the good competition King’s Fork will face this season in its new conference.

The Bulldogs return to action on April 5 at Lakeland High School.