(Photo credit: Abe Arredondo-Imagn Images)

After a stunning inaugural season, San Diego FC won't take anybody by surprise in its second MLS campaign.

San Diego FC begins defense of its Western Conference regular-season title when it hosts CF Montreal on Saturday night.

MLS Best XI midfielder Anders Dreyer will lead San Diego after being an MVP finalist for recording 19 goals and 19 assists last season.

San Diego FC (19-9-6, 63 points) set a league record for most victories by an expansion franchise and reached the Western Conference finals before losing to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

'Going into the second year, I think it's important that we stay focused. More of the teams will know what we are capable of and know what game style we have,' Dreyer told reporters.San Diego FC recently announced it is moving on from 2025 co-star, Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano (nine goals, 10 assists in regular season), after the rocky late-season drama that included discipline for a halftime confrontation in the locker room. The club has to find a taker for Lozano, whose pricey contract runs through 2028.One of the San Diego newcomers is midfielder Bryce Duke, who had three goals in 50 matches for CF Montreal over the past two seasons.Montreal (6-18-10, 28 points) was one of the worst teams in the league last season and missed the playoffs for the third time in five seasons.Forward Prince Owusu scored a career-best 13 goals in his first season with the club before signing a contract through the 2027-28 season, with options for the 2028-29 and 2029-30 seasons.'The guys who were here don't want to experience the same things we did last year,' Owusu said of expecting a brighter future. 'We've learned from it. ... The first step is to get a connection with the new guys and get a winning mentality.'Among the new arrivals are veteran forward Daniel Rios (Whitecaps), midfielder Wiki Carmona (New York Red Bulls) and defender Brayan Vera (Real Salt Lake).Montreal will be firing shots Saturday at 19-year-old Duran Ferree, a local product who will make his first MLS start in goal for San Diego.CJ dos Santos has yet to be cleared from the injury sustained in a postseason collision against the Portland Timbers on Nov. 1 in which he fractured his cheekbone and an orbital bone. In addition, No. 2 goalie Pablo Sisniega is serving a red-card suspension from a Nov. 29 playoff match against Vancouver.'He's got a great demeanor for the big moment,' San Diego coach Mikey Varas said of Ferree. 'You can tell he's calm under pressure. He's really excited to show his hometown what he's got.'--Field Level Media