Toronto FC II went through first-year growing pains in 2015 and never really found its footing for a significant stretch. The inexperience was on both sides of the ball, as evidenced by a league-worst minus-26 goal differential. The upside, heading into 2016, is that Jason Bent’s side has a year’s worth of professional games under its belt. With a significantly large group returning, TFC II is hopeful that this learning curve will now generate some cohesiveness and strong results to make a run up the Eastern Conference standings.

Head Coach: Jason Bent

Stadium: Ontario Soccer Centre

2015 results: 6-17-5; 11th in Eastern Conference

2015 postseason: Did not qualify for USL Playoffs

Goalkeeper: Toronto FC goalkeeper Alex Bono was loaned to TFC II for the duration of the 2015 season, and that should be the case for the 2016 campaign, as well, as he has been manning the net throughout the preseason. Bono made 12 appearances last year and is hoping to improve from his two-win performance from a year ago. He made 37 saves in 990 minutes.

Defense: Skylar Thomas heads the returning back line contingent, coming off a 2015 campaign in which he made 22 appearances (20 starts) while registering three goals and an assist. Wesley Charpie and Anthony Osorio also saw some significant minutes. New to the group is Mitchell Taintor, who signed earlier this month. The third-round selection in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft has the flexibility of playing defense or in the midfield.

Midfield: Former Toronto FC Academy midfielder Luca Uccello signed his first pro contract at age 17 last March, and among the returning group he enters 2016 with perhaps the most experience. The now-18-year-old logged 1,458 minutes, made 22 appearances and notched a goal and an assist. Also returning is Malik Johnson, 18, who appeared in seven games last year, Adam Bouchard (15 games and 1,033 minutes in 2015) and Liam Fraser (10 games, 668 minutes last year).

Forward: Several of TFC II’s players are interchangeable at midfield and forward. On multiple occasions throughout the preseason, when Toronto has featured a three-man front, returnees Raheem Edwards and Sal Bernal have pushed up in the attack. With Mo Babouli signing with the first team earlier this month, Toronto will need to find some creative ways – and additional help – to pick up some of that scoring void. Edwards started in 13 of 21 games last year, tallying two goals and an assist. Bernal also netted two goals in 12 games.

Strengths: One of the more defining qualities on this team is versatility, which for an MLS owned-and-operated club can be a tremendous asset as the roster fluctuates. With the likes of Bernal, Edwards and Taintor having the capability to adjust to various formations and duties, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Bent utilized that flexibility to keep opponents off-guard while at the same time testing the players’ strengths.

Weaknesses: With improvement needed at both ends of the field heading into the year, the biggest takeaway from last season were soft goals allowed on the defensive end. The defense did show some modest signs of improvement following a rough opening eight games in which TFC II allowed three or more goals in four of those matches. The familiarity within the majority of the back line and perhaps a more confident Alex Bono in goal could be the cure for 2016.

Key number: 1,824 – Skylar Thomas led last season’s TFC II squad with 1,824 minutes.

Noteworthy matchups: Toronto faces fellow Canadian side FC Montreal three times this season, starting with a road match on April 9. TFC II enjoyed some of its best success against Montreal with a 2-1-1 record.

Coach’s view: “Knowing that they have a year under their belt, they know what to expect from the league – with regards to travel, the level of physicality – so we’re expecting big things from them.” – Jason Bent