HARTFORD, Conn. — The Trinity College men's soccer program opens the 2023 season on the road at Framingham State University on September 5 at 7 p.m. under second-year Head Coach Methembe Ndlovu. Ndlovu is joined on the sidelines by Austin Farewell (1st season) as an assistant coach. The Bantams return eight veterans to the pitch including senior captain James Donaldson (Kirkland, Quebec) and fifth-year defender Matt Moran (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.). The duo brings experience and leadership to the team and helps to build success on the field among the returning Bantams and the four newcomers. Trinity welcomes four incoming Bantams this season with the hopes of developing them to be key players in their career for the Navy & Gold and helps the program continue to take a step in the right direction.

"This season, we aim to find a good rhythm as a team on and off the field early in the season with help from our veteran players," Ndlovu said. "We will focus on hitting the ground running in our performance on the pitch and put ourselves in a strong position to be more competitive in an already tough league."

Trinity's defense will be particularly solid with seniors Dante Merlin (South Windsor, Conn.) and Moran and returning in the backfield in front of talented senior goalkeeper Bernardo Simoes (Lisbon, Portugal). Merlin has been a reliable and consistent performer for the Navy & Gold who leads by example whatever role he is asked to play, while Simoes has experience in the league and will play a key position on the team as the starting goalkeeper in the net. Senior defender Brenner Morton (Dover, Mass.) contributes to the leadership as a vital asset to the strength and unity of the team and helps elevate the spirits of the players and the team.

Trinity returns offensive threat senior forward Michael Traynor (Rye, N.Y.) and will be an explosive weapon on the field, along with teammate and junior midfielder Nick Bellak (Amherst, Mass.) who will be a key player for the Bantams and expected to adjust to different roles on the field. After coming off injury last season, midfielder Quinn Ackman (Evanston, Ill.) will provide leadership on the field and expected to find time in a variety of positions.