In past years, the Owls’ coaching staff says that because players were solely tested on conditioning, upon their return to campus from summer break, the athletes would primarily focus on the fitness test—with little to no time dedicated to the technicalities of their game.

This year, players will be tested on both aspects of the game.

During this summer, the Owls were not only given conditioning drills to run, but technique drills, such as striking, shooting and heading.

“The first three days are the testing,” coach Seamus O’Connor said. “We do physical test and then do technical test, which is their ability with a soccer ball. We’ve never done that before”.

“Now they’ve had to spend as much time on [their technique] as the running part of it. So, those first three days will give us the opportunity to evaluate who did the work during the summer and it’ll help us be able to rank the girls. Those three days will help me with my decisions,” O’Connor added.

In a previous interview, O’Connor voiced his belief in playing the best players regardless of age and for a roster that houses 24 freshman and sophomores, the initial trials will be an opportunity for young players to fill depth chart vacancies.

Players arrive on campus for training camp on August 8.