The Parkland High School girls soccer team accomplished a lot during the 2022 season, winning both the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and District 11 4A championships, qualifying for the PIAA state tournament along the way.

But the Trojans did all of that with a very senior-laden team last year, graduating what head coach Al Haddad said to be the largest senior class in his 17 years at the helm. The 2023 edition will have a lot of work on their plates to keep the streak of three straight district titles going.

“After graduating our largest class since I’ve been here, we have some early season work to do to get everyone on the same page,” said Haddad. “Once there however, our goal is to have put ourselves in a position to compete for championships at season end.”

This season’s Trojans still have some talented returning letter winners from last year’s team that Haddad and his staff can rely on.

“Our top returning players are seniors Aristea Gougoustamos, Lauren Ervin, Dani Marsteller, Joanna Chou, Sophia Hallal and Sophie Frank,” said Haddad early in the preseason. “Then there is returning juniors, Delaney Chilcote and Emma Hull and returning sophomores, Katie Sammarco and Ellie Kocher. We are still going through an intense tryout process but we are excited about the prospects of JV players from last year and incoming freshman class.”

Parkland’s upperclassmen give it a strong advantage on the offensive side of the field, according to Haddad. The Trojans will be talented in the midfield and forward area on the field.

“Our strengths will be in our midfield and front line,” Haddad said. “Team speed and conditioning will be an attribute this season as well. We will be young and inexperienced in the back (lost junior Aamina Bhanji to an injury), but we will be excited to see how this group looks to take advantage of the opportunity and make their own mark for us defensively.”

Parkland’s 2023 season is set to start with a home game in conference play on Monday, August 28, against Pocono Mountain East.