Trinity Lutheran soccer coaches Todd Jack and Thom Hayes are hoping a combination of veterans and new players can add up to successful seasons this fall.

Jack is beginning his second season coaching the Trinity boys, and Hayes is starting his fourth season coaching the girls.

The Trinity boys will participate in a jamboree at Scottsburg on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m., while the Trinity girls will open their season at Providence Monday at 6 p.m.

Hayes said, “I think we’ll be pretty even throughout the field. We’ve got a varying skill level of players with a lot of returning ones that are good, and it will depend on where I put those good players whether we’ll be strong on offense or defense, and that will depend on our opponent.”

Jack is excited about the season for his team.

“I think we have strengths all over considering the returning players that we have,” he said. “We’re bolstering our numbers with six freshmen and two other seniors that came out. We’ll have quite a bit of depth. I think we’re going to show a lot of strength in the defense as well as our offense.”

Junior Peyton Pollert returns in goal. Jack wants to see Pollert take on more of a leadership role.

Prader Kiel, Andrew Bell, Adam Everroad and Levi Froedge are the senior boys on the roster.

Jack said Kiel will be the focal point of the defense.

“He’s going to be one of my center-backs. He will be another voice on the field. He will be in direct communication with his keeper and be dictating everything in that back line,” Jack said.

He expects juniors Levi Pottschmidt and Andrew Lemming to perform well at midfield, and he expects Bell to be a leader up front.

Jack said he looks for more guys to step up on offense and help in situations created by Bell.

Bell is beginning his fourth season as a starter for the Cougars.

“Last year, I usually played midfield, and I would go up to striker sometimes, depending on the game,” he said.

He said he scored one goal last season and is hoping to score more than that this fall.

Bell said teamwork and communication will be keys for the Cougars.

“Some people just want to look at the ball and their feet when they’re dribbling,” he said. “You’ve got to look up and you’ve got to make sure everybody is talking, at least let them know that there is someone behind them and if they can pass or if there is a good opportunity to go to the goal.”

Bell said at the end of practice, the team does a “doggie, which is like a field suicide almost. We’re trying to get our time up every time. It’s challenging. It’s definitely helping us because I noticed we’re less out of breath than we were at the start of the practice.”

He said he tries to fill a leadership role.

“We (seniors) usually lead warmups and let them know what’s going on. Adam, Prader and me, we usually include everybody and let everybody know what’s going on,” Bell said.

Senior girls playing are Kathryn Whitmore, Samantha Enzinger, Kennedy Royalty, Emma Myers and Siddha Hall. Hayes said he feels like they are providing good leadership.

“Emma Myers is going to carry the load for offense,” Hayes said. “She had a fair amount of goals last year. She has always been a great player. She didn’t always get her shot on goal, but what I’ve noticed her coming back this year, she has definitely improved from playing in her travel leagues and getting her shot.”

Myers will play at midfield with Kaydence Miller and Whitmore behind her.

Enzinger is starting her second season in goal for the Trinity girls.

“I just like that it’s kind of different from playing on the field,” Enzinger said. “I’m kind of separate, but I have to rely on my team and help out my team. I can see the field a little bit better than most of my teammates, so I let them know about things that I can see that they can’t.”

Enzinger said when an opponent is attacking, she has to make a decision whether to stay close to the net or go out on the field to make a stop and gain possession of the ball.

“It really just depends on how far away the person is and how far I come out and also how far they are away from the ball and if I can beat them to it,” she said.

Enzinger said scoring the first goal gives the team a big advantage mentally.

“I think that definitely has a big impact on us, especially last year,” she said. “If we didn’t get that first goal and they got ahead first, then I feel like that really put pressure on us and we didn’t play as well as we should have.”

Last year was Royalty’s first year of playing soccer for the Cougars, where she mainly played on defense.

“This year, I think I might be able to play some offense,” Royalty said. “I’m really excited for that.”

Royalty said she will be watching the defense to see if she can advance the ball or where to pass it.

“I will see if I have to drop it back, and hopefully, they can do something with it or I can cross it over and they can score,” she said.

Hayes said the Cougars need to work hard in practice and carry that effort over to the matches.

“That is what we strive for every year, but certainly this one. They’re going to have to play smart this year and not overdo it because we have two subs if everyone is here. What I’m focused on is how to make the field smaller, just play the center of the field and don’t be chasing balls everywhere,” he said. “Whatever the results are, it’s going to be a great season, and we’re going to have a good time. It’s a good group of girls, and they like playing together, and it’s going to be a good time.”

The home opener for the Trinity girls will be Aug. 20 against Rising Sun.