When the Parkland High School boys soccer team takes the field this season, it will be under the direction of a new head coach. Scott Mang, who was previously an assistant on the Trojans’ staff, will be in charge.

Following a 19-4-1 overall record last year, the Trojans will look to break through and capture their first Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and District 11 championship since 2017. They fell in the EPC title game to Freedom last fall. Mang believes he has the team to compete for titles in year one.

“We have a junior varsity and a varsity roster that has trained and played a ton of games with excellent club teams and coaches throughout the course of the year,” said Mang. “That said, the team has very little experience on the varsity level because of the graduation of last year’s roster of 12 seniors, eight of which are playing now in college.

“We are a team that will be very fit, players have the ability to play multiple positions and in a variety of tactical formations. They are brothers on and off the field and will work their socks off in training. I’m hoping that training with the team last year puts the players in a better position to meet the demands of playing in the EPC and District 11 sooner rather than later.”

Players the Trojans will be counting on this year include seniors Grant Berger, Sean Wood, Owen Lambinus, Lucas Heberling, Ty Sosik, Kai McGalla, Brian Slodkowski, Stathis Motsenigos, Gabe Blitzhken and Doug Martinez, along with juniors Trevor Grice, Josh Daniels, Luke Blenis, Jack Maier and Logan Thrash.

Mang will also have an experienced coaching staff at his side to help him through the season.

“It’s always concerning whenever you lose a coach (Patrick Birns) who has been the face of Parkland for 11 years,” Mang said. “That said, we have the entire coaching staff back with the addition of three experienced coaches. Our job as the coaching staff will be to provide consistency to the boys as we focus daily on meeting and surpassing the standards of excellence as established by previous Parkland teams and coaches.”

The goal as always remains the same for Parkland.

“Everyone knows the expectations of playing for and coaching at Parkland,” said Mang. “We will continue to work diligently at being great students, becoming young men with great character, caring for our community and communities around us, building a strong team bond, continuing to create an environment that prepares boys to play at the college level and improving our craft as soccer players and coaches.

“Our end goal is to always compete for the league, district and state championships.”