A new era is underway at Trinity.
Tara Hux inherited a program that returns seven starters but she’ll have her work cut out for her as the Trojans finished just 2-11-1 overall and 0-6 in league play last season.
Hux is confident the Trojans will quickly improve their level of play.
“Last year, Trinity girls’ soccer did not win any conference games,” Hux said. “While we do have a tough conference, we have made it a team goal to perform better in our conference. This year, we are not only working on the physical fitness of the team but also their mental toughness. Having confidence and determination going into this season will make a huge difference and we are excited for the potential to be able to be more successful in our conference.”
Despite a large number of returning starters, the Trojans did graduate seven seniors including their goalkeeper.
Normally, a gaping hole guarding the net would be concerning but Hux believes the Trojans have the tools to turn that weakness into a strength.
“The goalkeeper was initially our biggest hole on the team until we hired an assistant coach who played goalkeeper during her soccer career,” Hux said. “With her on staff, we are confident that we will be able to feel confident in our goalkeeper this season.”
As she begins to build her program, Hux will rely on a strong group of upperclassmen to set the tone for the rest of the team.
“We are lucky to have excellent leadership this season with our upperclassmen,” Hux said. “This leadership adds to the camaraderie of the team and allows for a lot of teaching moments on and off the field. The teamwork allows us to really build on the strengths we have, while also improving our weaknesses.”
Among those team leaders are senior Jillian Kalic and juniors Imari Charlton and Emily Kitral.
Kalic is a solid defender with other skills that could help the Trojans create scoring opportunities.
“Jillian displays excellent leadership on the field,” Hux said. “She is a highly skilled defender and has a great eye for servicing the ball for set plays.”
Charlton is a forward and Kitral is a midfielder.
“Imari brings tons of speed and talent to our team. In addition to her soccer skills, she is one of the leaders on the team to the underclassmen,” Hux said. “Emily is a skilled center midfielder for the Lady Trojans. She has amazing field awareness and is excellent at distributing the ball. She always has a positive attitude on and off the field.”
Hux knows she’ll have to fine-tune her lineup as the season progresses but the Trojans are off to a great start.
“I am very excited to have such a great group of girls to work with as my first year head coaching,” Hux said. “Our girls have been working extremely hard all summer leading into this fall and we are happy to be able to have a somewhat normal year, as COVID-19 made for quite a different experience last season for the girls. We are looking forward to facing our opponents and the games ahead.”
The Trojans will measure success in many different ways this season.
Of course, wins will carry the most weight but individual growth and development also will play a key role.
One thing Hux doesn’t have to worry about is her squad’s commitment to the team.
“To succeed this season, these girls will need to work hard and really focus on their ball skills,” Hux said. “We have a great group of girls with a lot of heart, so we never question their commitment to the game or their desire to play well. Our players have a young soccer age, so building up their foot skills and soccer awareness will play a large role in this season’s success.”
