Trumbull has been battling for positions this preseason.
“We have good numbers, the most I’ve had since I’ve been with the program,” said Rich Sutherland, who will be graduating his first group of seniors. “We have a lot of incoming freshman. We have a lot of sophomore from last year. We don’t have a big senior or junior group. We have competition at most of the positions to push everyone on.”
Sophia Lowenberg, Mia DiBello and Julia Marin are team captains.
“Sophia is so well known,” Sutherland said of his Boston College bound All-Stater. “Teams have seen her; most will look to double on her. It is nothing new. Sophia has played a variety of positions. We need her ability on the ball. We need other girls to catch on to what she is trying and get her behind the defense.
“This is Mia’s fourth year as a varsity player. She will be up front with Korrie Munoz, Madeline Lojko, Taylor Lilly, Ava Meagher and Lauren Delaney. Julia is our keeper. Anabela Martins is her backup.”
Trumbull has seven seniors, bolstered by five returning juniors, from its 6-2-4 squad a year ago.
Mary Lynch, Ella Peterson, Lindsay Bull, Stella Orazietti, Elizabeth Lynch, Catherine Wright, Peyton Bashar and Megan Garrity will defend.
Mackenzie Reid, Abby Leozi, Kaitlyn Bailo, Lexi Van Stone, Maya Marin and Olivia Cunha will lead in the midfield. Cunya can also play up front.
Trumbull opened the preseason with Shelton. Amity is next.
“We have a tough run in,” Sutherland said about his opponents from the SCC. “That helps us get patterns, build relationships. It was a good day (5-0 victory) with Shelton. We scored off a set piece that we had been working on, which was good. It’s always good to get that first win under your belt.”
Sutherland said balancing playing time before Westhill visits Thursday at 4 p.m. is necessary.
“You want them to get game time in (during the preseason). Come Thursday you want them to be capable to play 80 minutes,” Sutherland said. “You want everyone ready. You want that happy medium of giving players a chance to prosper and fight for a spot. But you also want them to get as many minutes as possible.”
Sutherland believes that depth makes a team.
“I always call high school like International (soccer). It’s a bit restricted. You have what you have,” he said. “You want to challenge players for positions each day to keep them uncomfortable. You want them to know we can bring someone else in. If you get complacent, teams don’t prosper.”
william.bloxsom@hearstmediact.com Twitter: @blox354