After a strong 2023 campaign, the Northwest College men’s soccer team will be looking to take the next step, returning eight players from a team that placed second in Region IX and fell short in the playoff semifinal last season.

One of the top attacking threats will be making his return to the pitch for the Trappers, with Pedro Miguel Vilaca Teixeira of Portugal returning for his redshirt sophomore season after scoring 10 goals and assisting four last year.

Northwest will also return Thiago Bayer of Brazil, Hugo Carbonell of Spain and Joe Hughes of England as attackers, while Pedro Nunez of Brazil and Kasey Smith of England return in midfield.

Defensively, Northwest returns Englishmen Alan De Paula at center back and Harvey Bolland in goal.

“There’s some good experience. Getting second and going to the semi final last year, they can fully explain to the guys how that went, what worked and what didn’t work,” coach Rob Hill said. “They can kind of pass the torch and have that same leadership that JJ (Mullane) and Daniel (Gargallo Saavedra) brought last year to the team and help them understand what is required to win.”

That group is expected to mix alongside more than 20 new freshmen, with players from four different continents stretching across a variety of nationalities converging on Northwest.

“A huge freshman class,” Hill said. “I think we have 15 different nationalities from different styles and cultures, but I think these guys have meshed incredibly well. They are a group that I am excited about.”

Hill said that it is an extremely talented group all around, that may have more depth than he has seen in many years that could help push the program forward to that next step.

“It’s just a matter of maintaining that level of consistency throughout practice,” Hill said. “I think we have to stay uncomfortable and keep challenging each other so we are prepared for these games.”

He said that even though there are a lot of freshmen, many of them served as captains of their respective teams before coming to Powell, gaining a lot of experience that can potentially bring more leadership in addition to talent.

After more than a week of practice the Trappers will head out on the road, beginning with a tour through Montana to kick off the season with a set of scrimmages.

Northwest will take on Rocky Mountain College at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in Billings, before heading to Helena on Monday at 1 p.m. to take on Carroll College and then to Great Falls on Tuesday at 1 p.m. to take on the University of Providence.

“A lot of learning curves for these guys. I think some of them have experienced it in their home countries but I think this will be a fast-paced, transition game that they’re going to have to understand how quick things are,” Hill said. “A big learning curve for some of these guys where it will set us up for success going into the first game against Mohave.”

After the Montana tour, Northwest will return home to practice before meeting with Mohave College from Arizona in Gillette on Aug. 22.