With the semester coming to a close, the UNA soccer team is gearing up for their fall season with preseason training as well as recruiting.

“We have a large amount of incoming players so we will use preseason for several team bonding activities along with the usual team tactics and fitness,” said Chris Walker, head coach. “We will look to get all of the players on the same page and set a very competitive practice environment that will hopefully bring the very best out of all of the players.”

The team has 13 returning players for the fall, but the team is able to fill the roster with 22 to 25 players, he said.

Walker said he and his coaching staff have been all over the United States as well as other countries searching for new talent to bring to the UNA fields.

Although the team will not have outgoing senior player Chloe Roberts in the fall, Walker hopes his team will take advantage of the new season and step into her shoes as leaders on the field.

“We had a talented group of seniors finish last fall, so it was never going to be easy to replace what they brought to the team,” he said. “This coming fall will be a great opportunity for several players on the roster to step up and take the team where we want to be. “

Walker and his team are planning to maintain their competitive edge in the Gulf South Conference. Walker expects West Florida will remain one of their toughest opponents in the coming year.

To prepare for the upcoming season, players will be expected to participate in daily summer workouts that will include field work and weightlifting. The 13 players currently on the roster have already begun their spring workout training.

“I have used this spring to get to know all of the returning players, and I have to give them credit in the fact that they have worked hard and done everything that I have asked of them,” Walker said. “We have a very close-knit group, and I think that will only help us as we prepare for the upcoming season.”

Walker could not release names of the newly signed players, but he remains confident the soccer team will develop into a strong team by the fall.

“We have managed to sign what we believe is a really good incoming class,” he said. “We are expecting several of them to set up straight away and earn a considerable amount of playing time.”