Still in the process of sorting out his 22-player varsity roster for position assignments, Champlain Valley Union High soccer coach Brad Parker will be looking for answers Saturday when his Redhawks participate in a multi-team jamboree at Essex High.

The 2009 Division 1 tournament runners-up open the new campaign at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Rice Memorial High.

After the jamboree, “we’ll have a good idea of where we are,” Parker said, adding that CVU will play in shortened 40-minute contests against Burlington High (the defending Division 1 champs), Hartford High and Essex High.

“We have a lot of good athletes,” Parker said. “We are still trying to figure out where kids can play their best.”

The Redhawks lost several seniors by graduation including veteran defenders Lindsay Kingston, Addie Peterson, Haleigh Smith and Kylie deGroot. Other significant graduation departures include Erika Gobeille, Hannah Turnbaugh, Rachel Lesperance and Nicole Utter.

Back in the Red and White colors are 12 returning seniors including goalie Emily Sackett and all-conference player Lindsay Hawley.

“We always build from the back so we will have our defense fairly quickly,” Parker said, noting that up front there are several players with scoring ability.

Helping fill slots are girls coming up from last season’s undefeated junior varsity team.

Parker is being assisted this year by Stan Williams, with whom he has worked in the past.

Milbank helps UVM soccer team

Former Champlain Valley Union High soccer star Emily Milbank continues to be a fixture for the University of Vermont women’s soccer team.

Last Friday, Milbank drew an assist on an overtime goal scored by teammate Haley Marks that gave the Catamounts a 2-1 victory over Rider in the opening game of the TD Bank Classic at Centennial Field.

Milbank’s pass from midfield set up Marks within 20 feet of the Rider net.