It is a much-improved University of Maine-Presque Isle women’s soccer team opening the season Friday at 5 p.m. at Husson College in Bangor.

“We are a much better team than last year,” said first-year coach Bob Grove-Markwood, who was an assistant in 1991 when the team finished 5-9.

“These women have a much-improved sense of the game. Tactically, they all have more experience and more knowledge. The level of play is raised a bit and, even though the numbers are not a big jump forward, the experience they all bring is definitely an improvement.”

Physically, Grove-Markwood believes, team speed is a major asset, as is team attitude.

Fifteen players are on the roster, but the door is still open. Double-session practices started Thursday and concluded Monday in anticipation of the first day of classes on Tuesday.

“There may be some additions to the roster the first week or two,” Grove-Markwood said, “if some freshmen show up I don’t know about. We’ve got good players, but it never hurts to have a few more.”

Grove-Markwood is confident with those “good players,” who can sub in as needed. “I feel very comfortable about playing each one of them,” he said.

Five of the 15 are returning starters, but many of the newcomers bring a lot of talent to the program.

Back in starting positions are senior forward Wendi Romanell of Princeton, and juniors Jennifer Marshall, a sweeper from Lee, N.H., and Readfield halfback Becky Marschall. Sophomore returnees are Jennifer Hersey, a fullback from Presque Isle, and midfielder-goalkeeper Michelle Davis of Ellsworth.

“They’re having fun, and I think they have a wonderful attitude,” the coach said. “Despite the weather, which up here has been just awfully wet and rainy, there has not been a complaint. That’s a bit of a clue.”

Take Davis, for example. She is the goalkeeper “at least for now.” The former Ellsworth star played in the field last year.

“Michelle is basically willing to do this for the good of the team,” Grove-Markwood said of being in the net. “This is not her first choice, but she’s working at it. That’s part of the attitude. There’s a good sense of team and team play.”

Adding to the offensive punch is the return of two-time Most Valuable Player Lynn Hartley, a senior forward from Caribou, back after a two-season layoff. Grove-Markwood expects her to be a leader in a much more offense-oriented game.

“The team was not a weak defensive one last year,” he said. “The defense did fairly well. But we’re going to be more of a scoring team, and Lynn is going to have something to do with that.”

Also, he said, there is no question Sarah Roy (a freshman from Van Buren who holds that school’s scoring record of 104 goals) will put the ball in the net. “She just knows how to do it. She has instincts other players don’t have.”

Other offensive-minded players at forward and midfield include sophomores Kelly Picard of Madawaska and Maggie Watson of Caribou, with a recent Madawaska grad, Renae Madore.

Caribou senior Shelly Plourde and Endicott College sophomore transfer Andrea Sponberg of Presque Isle will be counted on to continue improving the team’s defensive capabilities with freshmen Teresa Washington, Dexter; Wendy Cote, Limestone; and Misty Gentle, Houlton. Sponberg played for Endicott as a freshman.

“I’m very optimistic about our ability to score and move the ball,” Grove-Markwood said, “but we’ll know much more after this first weekend. We haven’t had any full-field experience yet. We’ve been playing ourselves into condition.”

The Schedule Sept. 4 at Husson, 5 p.m. Sept. 5 at Thomas, 1 p.m. Sept. 12 at Johnson (Vt.) State, 10 a.m. Sept. 13 at Lyndon (Vt.) State, 1 p.m. Sept. 19 UM-Fort Kent, 1 p.m. Sept. 27 Westbrook, 1 p.m. Sept. 29 at UM-Fort Kent, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Westbrook, 2 p.m. Oct. 4 at Notre Dame (N.H.) 1 p.m. Oct. 10 at UM-Farmington, 1 p.m. Oct. 12 Thomas, 3 p.m. Oct. 16 Husson, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at St. Joseph’s, 1 p.m. Oct. 23 at UM-Farmington, 3 p.m.