After returning from an international trip to Spain, The College of Wooster women's soccer team shifts focus to the 2023 season.

The Scots embarked on a week-long trip to Spain earlier this summer where they trained, played a series of matches, and explored the sights and sounds of the country all while creating stronger bonds within the team.

And those bonds will be important as the Scots return a familiar roster featuring 16 upperclassmen and eight seniors.

"It wasn't just a sightseeing trip or a soccer only trip, but a combination of all those things," head coach Geordie Brown said. "The trip was a great way to culminate the season, the school year and to give us a platform to build on for this season."

The Scots return a significant number of players including its three captains in seniors Aly Brugh, Naomi Mann and Lindsey Moore. The pair of sophomores who led the way in scoring last year also return in Emma Jaros and Hallie Krzys.

Both earned All-NCAC honors as did first-year Kelsey Maley, who led the defense.

Kryzs's 17 points (8 goals, 1 assist) put her second in the conference, while Jaros added six goals and two assists.

"We'll see what we can create," Brown said. "The hope is because players have been there in those situations more, we can figure out how to be successful in those situations. But as far as team goals - it's going to be dictated as we go along, and each game has to be taken individually."

Wooster also returns its two goalkeepers, Kameryn Nelson and Amanda Flory, along with newcomer Lucy Carlin. The trio should spark a healthy competition for playing time.

Nelson saw the bulk of the action in 2022 after Flory played just six games after an injury kept her out the remainder of the year. Under Nelson, the Scots went 4-4-4 as the first-year collected 46 saves for a .807 save percentage.

In addition to Carlin, Brown brought in four other first-years to fill this year's roster.

"We were intentional on keeping the number coming in smaller," he said. "We picked up some players who we felt were a good fit for us both in terms of them as a person but can also, hopefully, help us now or in the near future."

Wooster is coming off a 7-6-4 season with a 2-3-2 North Coast Athletic Conference record. They did not have a great final month, missing out on the NCAC Tournament, but, overall, went 5-3-2 in non-conference competition.

While taking the approach of one game at a time, the hope is the experience and bond between players will give Wooster the edge in returning to the NCAC Tournament. Before last year, Wooster reached the championship game in each of the last three tries.

In the 2023 NCAC Preseason Poll, there was a three-way tie among Denison University, DePauw University and Kenyon College. The Scots were projected fifth in a tie with Wittenberg University.

"With only seven opponents each win becomes really critical," Brown said. "It's about who gets on a run. It's about having players who have been there and having them know how important those games in mid-October are."

Wooster opens the fall slate with a home exhibition against Trine University. The Scots then open the season against Chatham University on Sept. 2 and have their first home game Sept. 9 versus Grove City. October is filled with NCAC matches, with the first at home on Oct. 7 versus Wittenberg.

"We're excited to get going," Brown added. "We've got a good group of student athletes doing well in classroom, and I think we'll have good leadership and have a good start to the season."