1. WINDHAM: The Eagles graduated eight starters, including Player of the Year Cassie Symonds (now at Holy Cross) and Class A leading scorer Jenna Soucy (UMaine). Four others are at NCAA Division II schools. So the two-time Class A champs will slip from contention? Nope, say rival coaches. Windham has the top striker in southern Maine in senior forward Ciera Berthiaume and plenty of talented players such as Madison Mauro, Holly Spencer, Maggie Symonds and Sara Barrett.

2. GREELY: The Rangers have plenty of standouts, led by dynamic senior duo of Jocelyn Mitiguy and Izzy Hutnak with plenty of support across the field from the likes of dangerous junior Ellie Schad (7 goals, 6 assists). Seniors Maddie Cyr (goalie), Allison Coon (midfielder), Maggie Reed (defense), Kelsey Otley (D) and Lanie Kropp (MF) are back from a team that lost the regional final in penalty kicks to Cape Elizabeth. The return of senior Susanna Jacobson, who did not play last year, is another plus.

3. SCARBOROUGH: The Red Storm graduated three top-end players in Ashley Gleason, Sam Sparda and Katherine Kirk. But the pipeline of incoming talent is overflowing with 30-plus freshmen. Mary Farnkoff and Emma Smith will control the defensive end in front of returning keeper Molly LeComte. The biggest task early in the season will be getting role players like Maddie Chen, who scored big goals down the stretch in 2014, Ashley Perriello (12 goals as a sophomore) and Aly Atherton to adapt to bigger roles.

4. CAPE ELIZABETH: Regional Class B champs will again be a tough out, especially as long as do-it-all midfielder Montana Braxton is on the field. Almost unbeatable in the air, Braxton can play wherever Coach Craig Fannan needs her. Capers will usually have at least eight seniors in the starting lineup, including staunch defender Sierra Aceto and striker Kate Breed. Junior Mariah Deschino has led the team in scoring the past two years. Replacing the steely will of graduated Kathryn Clark might be the biggest question.

5. GORHAM: Senior all-state and All-Telegram defender Cady Houghton leads an experienced group that can challenge Windham and Scarborough for SMAA supremacy. Junior center midfielder Jenna Cowan quietly “does it all,” says Coach Jeanne Zarrilli. Seniors Lizzie Sullivan (F), Emily Bragg (F) and Jenny Darasz (D), along with juniors Cowan, Narissa Libby (D), Meg Caron (MF) and returning goalie Emma Smith are also important members. Look for Houghton to be more involved offensively.

6. YARMOUTH: Still a young team but definitely on the rise after a 9-4-3 season. Sophomore Sara D’Appolonia is already on coaches’ short list of top players in the state. The Clippers have senior leadership and strong on-field presence in backs Lilly Watson and Lauren Bartlett and should help ease freshman keeper Lydia Guay’s transition. Abby Condin is a versatile, tenacious player and junior Katie Clemmer is among the top strikers in the Western Maine Conference.

7. BRUNSWICK: The Dragons return eight starters from a 10-4-2 team that reached the Eastern A semifinal and still have a good mix of veterans and young talent. The return of Lena Martin, a skillful central midfielder, is another bonus. Martin missed last season because of injury and is now back to full speed. Sophomore Maeve Arthur (14 goals) is a scoring threat and freshman midfielder Jenna Brooks is expected to be an immediate contributor.

8. THORNTON ACADEMY: Any team would miss the scoring of graduated Tori Daigle and Haley DaGraca (43 combined goals) and Thornton returns just two starters: goalie Lexi Nason and midfielder Cassidy Cochrane, the team’s third-leading scorer. Still, Coach Chris Kohl believes his inexperienced club can rise above the middle tier of teams in the SMAA. Look for Cochrane, freshman Hannah Niles and Faith Sinclair to carry the offensive load with Eden LeBlanc and Abbey Carrigan shoring up the defense.

9. CAMDEN HILLS: The Windjammers move up to Northern A after a 12-4-1 Class B season. That might cut into the scoring totals for senior forward Emma Gutheinz (20 goals, 10 assists) and junior midfielder Charlotte Messer (14 and 8) but they’ll still be a top-notch duo. Exchange student goalie Jana Speiker (The Netherlands) fills a need nicely. Senior center back Brynne Wrona and junior striker Brynne Anderson add experience around the field.

10. SACOPEE VALLEY: The Hawks return nine starters from their Class C state champion squad that won five playoff games as the seventh seed with a lock-down defense led by senior Jade Jordan and junior Helen Ruhlin. Junior McKenzie Murphy (9 assists) already controls the flow in the midfield and is looking to add some finishing touch to complement senior striker Courtney Ryan who presents a feared matchup in the offensive third.

– Steve Craig

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