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1
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Houston
Germantown, TN
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0-0-0
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Outlook: With nine returning starters from last year's 25-0 squad, Houston has all the makings of a national title-contending team in 2018. Last year's squad finished No. 3 in the FAB 50 behind powerhouses Penn (Ind.) and Portland Jesuit (Ore.).
Key Players: M Jenna Kemp (Memphis), D Cara Young (Arkansas), GK Gabby Dawe (Kansas), Abie Rushwin.
Key Matches: Aug. 31 vs. Bearden at Bearden Invitational; Sept. 1 vs. Strongsville (Ohio) at Bearden Invitational; Sept. 7-9 at Rivals Tournament; Oct. 3 vs. Collierville.
Summary: If Houston can put together another perfect season, it will then own a win streak around 50 matches and that will be hard to argue against for the No. 1 ranking.
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2
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Carmel
Carmel, IN
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Outlook: When the Indiana Fire returned to the ECNL, it became a game-changer for an already strong Carmel program. Carmel's 25-person roster now featured eight former girls DA players and 14 ECNL players.
Key Players: M/F Ashley Witucki (Purdue), D Emily Speidel (Western Kentucky), D Elizabeth Hargis (Mercer), M Elyse Reed (Mississippi), M/F Kelsie James (Valparaiso), M Morgan Parker (Western Michigan), M Aliyah Thompson, F Naomi Mann, Cassidy Eckstein (Valparaiso), Claire Bonnici.
Key Matches: Aug. 25 at Carmel Invitational; Aug. 31 vs. Penn at Lady Eagle Invitational; Sept. 1 vs. Toledo Notre Dame (Ohio) at Lady Eagle Invitational; Sept. 17 vs. Noblesville; Sept. 20 vs. Brebeuf Jesuit.
Summary: Carmel has been the standard for Indiana soccer and this team could make a serious run at a third FAB 50 national title.
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3
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St. John's
Washington, DC
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0-0-0
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Outlook: St. John's has the talent to play a high-pressure game, and it delivered a WCAC title in Allison Diaz's first year as head coach. With the returning talent, a national title is within striking range for this high school program.
Key Players: F Maliah Morris (Clemson), M Makenna Morris (Clemson), Meaghan O'Donovan (Syracuse), M Gabriella Nastasi (Morehead State).
Key Matches: Oct. 9 vs. Good Counsel (Md.); Oct. 25 vs. McDonogh (Md.).
Summary: Between its league play and a match with McDonogh, St. John's place nationally will be easy to figure. If all goes well, the Cadets could be in the running for the FAB 50 national title -- an honor that has never landed at a D.C. school.
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4
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Portland Jesuit
Portland, OR
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0-0-0
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Outlook: Portland Jesuit had a near perfect season last year -- actually perfect on the scoreboard and only two goals allowed. Although Jesuit graduated a two-time All-America selection among a strong senior class, this squad is still loaded.
Key Players: GK Mary Votava (Notre Dame), F Callan Harrington (Washington).
Key Matches: Sept. 4 vs. Camas (Wash.)
Summary: Jesuit does not get outside of the Pacific Northwest, meaning its often difficult to judge this team on the national scene. However, the quality of players rivals anything found in the East, and the out-of-state clash with Camas will play a major part in the assessment of both teams.
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5
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Northern Highlands
Allendale, NJ
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0-0-0
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Outlook: Northern Highlands has become a fixture in the FAB 50 in recent years with coach Tara Madigan at the helm. Even as star players graduate, the Highlanders have found ways to reload. This year's team has the making of another state title contender, and that could put this team in the chase for No. 1.
Key Players: M Claudia Dipasupil (Tennessee), D Olivia Homan (Fairfield), GK Sara Ghorashi.
Key Matches: Sept 7-9 at Rivals Tournament in Tennessee; Sept. 25 vs. Immaculate Heart Academy; Oct. 2 vs. Ramapo.
Summary: With PDA players coming back to the high school game, it could alter the landscape of New Jersey soccer. The impact will not be known until players actually show up for practice, which starts later in August for New Jersey. At this point, though, Northern Highlands seems to have the horses to make another run at a state title.
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6
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McDonogh School
Owings Mills, MD
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0-0-0
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Outlook: McDonogh won back-to-back FAB 50 national titles in 2014 and 2015, and could very well be in the running again this year. The defending IAAM A Conference champs are stacked at the top of the lineup and will face a national lineup of opponents. The Eagles return eight starters from last year's 14-2-4 squad.
Key Players: F Julia Dorsey (North Carolina), M Lily McCarthy (Tennessee), F Kalli Wethern.
Key Matches: Aug. 31 vs. Toledo Notre Dame (Ohio) at Lady Eagle Invitational; Sept. 1 vs. Notre Dame Academy (Ky.) at Lady Eagle Invitational; Sept. 7 vs. Episcopal Academy (Pa.); Sept. 12 at Good Counsel; Oct. 25 at St. John's (D.C.).
Summary: McDonogh has built a blockbuster schedule, and still might add another trip to Ohio. If the Eagles can run the table like they did in 2014 and 2015, this certainly will be a team worthy of No. 1 consideration.
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7
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Camas
Camas, WA
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0-0-0
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Outlook: Camas has been a state title contender in recent years, but usually there's been a team -- such as Issaquah or Skyline -- simply strong. This, however, might be Camas' year. Camas is the only Class 4A team returning three all-state players from 2017.
Key Players: F Maddie Kemp (Gonzaga), F Jenna Efraimson (Idaho), F Jazzlyn Paulson.
Key Matches: Sept. 4 at Portland Jesuit (Ore.); Sept. 15 vs. Puyallup.
Summary: Cams' season opener is against Portland Jesuit in a clash of preseason Top 10 teams. That result will play a major role in ranking the Pacific Northwest teams this season.
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8
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Pennington School
Pennington, NJ
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0-0-0
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Outlook: Pennington has won a staggering 18 state titles in 22 championship match appearances since 1985. The defending New Jersey Prep A champions are a strong favorite to repeat in 2018. Over the last 21 seasons, Pennington is 356-52-21.
Key Players: F Kylie Daigle (Villanova), D Gianna Lucchesi (Richmond), Jaydin Avery (St. Joseph's), Kayla Reed.
Key Matches: Sept. 21 vs. Pennsbury (Pa.), Sept. 29 vs. Episcopal Academy (Pa.), Oct. 6 vs. Wall Township.
Summary: Pennington plays two of the top projected teams in Pennsylvania, and those results likely will go a long way in creating the pecking order of elite Mid-Atlantic teams. Pennington' will have to overcome the loss of keeper Mia Justus, who left Pennington for the fall and is training at IMG Academy in preparation for a run at a spot on the US Under-17 National Team.
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9
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Good Counsel
Olney, MD
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0-0-0
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Outlook: Good Counsel and St. John's figure to be the class of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference this season, and both teams are loaded.
Key Players: GK Heather Hinz (South Carolina), F Jameese Joseph (NC State); Danielle Satola.
Key Matches: Sept. 1 vs. Archbishop Spalding at AACC Labor Day Tournament; Sept. 7-8 at Rivals Tournament in Tennessee; Sept. 12 vs. McDonogh School; Oct. 9 vs. St. John's (D.C.).
Summary: The Falcons have carved out a blockbuster schedule, which will include games against three preseason Top 10 teams -- No. 1 Houston (Tenn.), No. 4 St. John's (D.C.) and No. 6 McDonogh. Obviously the opportunity is there to improve its national ranking with quality results.
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10
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Wayzata
Minneapolis, MN
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0-0-0
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Outlook: Wayzata suffered only one loss in 2017 -- that came in the team's final match. This group will be hungry to get back to the state tournament and win the title in 2018.
Key Players: M Lily Gilbertson (Northwestern), D Megan Malecha (DePaul).
Key Matches: Aug. 28 vs. Washburn; Sept 4 and Sept. 29 vs. Edina.
Summary: Tony Peszneker has consistently produced state title contenders, and it appears with Wayzata team not only will be in the running for a state title but also a lofty national ranking.
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11
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Brebeuf Jesuit
Indianapolis, IN
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0-0-0
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Outlook: Angela Berry White has built a power at Brebeuf Jesuit, which made state final appearances in 2015 and 2016. Last year's team was undefeated and appeared poised for a bid at FAB 50 No. 1 until falling to Carmel. With three of its top five goal scorers back, Brebuef again figures to be a title contender.
Key Players: F Brianna Arthur (Saint Louis).
Key Matches: Aug. 15 vs. Noblesville; Aug. 25 vs. Guerin Catholic; Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at Lady Eagle Invitational; Sept. 20 vs. Carmel.
Summary: Brebeuf graduated five all-district players, but this is a program that restocks every year. Also, Brebeuf plays a schedule that will sort out in a hurry this team's place among the state and region's elite programs.
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12
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Indian Hill
Cincinnati, OH
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0-0-0
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Outlook: After years of Cleveland-Akron dominance, Cincinnati programs swept the state titles -- much to everyone's surprise -- in 2017. While the other Cincinnati champs lost a bulk of talent to graduation, Indian Hill appears poised to make another run at the title.
Key Players: F Anna Podojil (Arkansas), M Ellie Podojil (Arkansas), M Margo David, D Clair Dehamel.
Key Matches: Sept. 8 vs. Summit Country Day; Sept. 17 vs. Archbishop Nicholas.
Summary: The match with Summit Country Day could go a long way in shaping the Ohio state rankings among all three classes this year.
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13
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Episcopal Academy
Newtown Square, PA
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0-0-0
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Outlook: Episcopal Academy returns its top five scorers and nearly the entire back line that posted 13 shutouts for the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association state runner-up team in 2017. Matches with Pennington (N.J.) and McDonogh (Md.) will help place EA among the teams nationally.
Key Players: M Anna Salvucci (South Carolina), D Maddie Loughead (Richmond), F Olivia Dirks (Penn State - lacrosse), D Laila Payton (Old Dominion), D Devon Whitaker (Virginia - lacrosse), M Raina Kuzemka, M Lauren Cunningham.
Key Matches: Sept. 7 vs. McDonogh School (Md.); Sept. 11 vs. Conestoga; Sept. 29 vs. Pennington School (N.J.).
Summary: Episcopal Academy has long been a lacrosse power, but now both the boys and girls soccer programs appear on the rise. With no clear PIAA favorite in Pennsylvania this year, PISAA member and Inter-Ac defending champion EA starts from the No. 1 spot in Pennsylvania, which is among the stronger fall-playing states.
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14
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Brunswick
Brunswick, OH
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0-0-0
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Outlook: With nine returning starters, Brunswick projects as an early title favorite in a strong Division I field. This program might remain a factor for years to come as five incoming freshman/sophomores played for Cleveland FC's 15U team at the US Youth Soccer nationals last month.
Key Players: M Ariella Pitty (Ohio State), M/F Caylee Jozefor (Toledo), GK Sam Grabowski, D Maddy Grabowski, D Mariah Kimble, M/D Alexandra Flowers (Hiram).
Key Matches: Sept. 5 vs. Medina; Sept. 12 vs. Strongsville.
Summary: Brunswick was slowed by injuries last year. If the Blue Devils can avoid injuries in 2018, it should be a strong season.
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15
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Baldwinsville
Baldwinsville, NY
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0-0-0
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Outlook: With a pair of TopDrawerSoccer state stars returning for the defending New York Class AA champs, Baldwinsville gets the nod as the preseason favorite.
Key Players: M Kelsey DeLola (Villanova), M/F Simone Neivel.
Key Matches: Sept. 9 vs. Niskayuna
Summary: The early match with Niskayuna will help size up Baldwinsville standing relative to the Albany-area teams. Baldwinsville, from the Syracuse area, will see rivals Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse twice each in league play. But with a state as geographically large as New York, Baldwinsville won't get a chance to face the top Long Island-area programs until the state tournament.
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16
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Walsh Jesuit
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
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0-0-0
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Outlook: Walsh Jesuit was upset in the regional semifinals, the team's earliest postseason exit in at least a decade. Given the high number of underclass starters in 2017, look for Walsh Jesuit to return to its usual status as state title challenger in 2018.
Key Players: D Halle Rogers, F Isabella Rosalina.
Key Matches: Sept. 15 vs. Medina; Sept. 22 vs. Jackson.
Summary: The regular season schedule is not overly challenging, but postseason is a beast for this program, which has won 10 state titles since 2000. The usual state title run in Ohio Division I means the champ would have defeated anywhere from three to five FAB 50 teams in the last three weeks of the season.
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17
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Noblesville
Noblesville, IN
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0-0-0
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Outlook: Year-in, year-out Noblesville puts a solid team on the field. With three of the team's four first-team all-district players projected to return, it's easy to understand why expectations are high for the Millers.
Key Players: F Jenna Chatterton, F Keely Hoopingarner, D Jensen Summers.
Key Matches: Aug. 15 vs. Brebeuf Jesuit; Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at Lady Eagle Invitational; Sept. 17 vs. Carmel; Sept. 22 vs. Penn; Sept. 26 vs. Hamilton Southeastern.
Summary: Noblesville will know its place early in the season with matches against Brebeuf and two contests at the Lady Eagle Invitational. Those results will set the tone for the rest of the season.
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18
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American Fork
American Fork, UT
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0-0-0
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Outlook: American Fork came within one win of a perfect season in 2017. This year's squad, with Dessert News Class 5A Player of the Year Jamie Shepherd returning, will be favored to repeat. The team is projected to have seven first- or second-team all-state players back.
Key Players: M Jamie Shepherd (BYU), GK Haven Empey, M Jordyn Roth; D Ragan Fuller, M Rachel McCarthy, M Addison Gardner, D Sydney Bushman..
Key Matches: Aug. 9 vs. Timpanogos; Aug. 13 vs. Maple Mountain.
Summary: Utah underwent quite an overhaul last year with a large and talented upper class leaving for Girls DA play. The move left several high school teams turning to more freshmen and sophomores. It worked for American Fork, which was undergoing its own youth movement after graduating 11 seniors after the 2016 season. Not only did the young players get field time, they brought home a state title and now has plenty of experience entering 2018.
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19
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Puyallup
Puyallup, WA
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0-0-0
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Outlook: Puyallup lost to eventual state champion Issaquah in a Round of 16 quarterfinal match, the team's only loss last season. With a pair of all-state underclassmen back, Puyallup might be in position to make a run at a state title in 2018.
Key Players: F Sydney Evans, M Meredith Udovich.
Key Matches: Sept. 3 vs. Skyline; Sept. 15 vs. Camas; Oct. 2 vs. Bellarmine Prep
Summary: Puyallup is carrying a 16-match regular season undefeated streak into 2018, and te biggest challenge will be Camas. The team's schedule is backloaded, ending the regular season with always-strong Bellarmine before the league and ultimately state playoffs.
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20
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Strongsville
Strongsville, OH
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0-0-0
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Outlook: Strongsville is a program that reloads every season. Despite losing a pair of all-region players, the Mustangs figure to remain among the best Division I programs in Ohio.
Key Players: M Peyton Felton (Memphis); M Kayla Wypasek (Northern Kentucky); F Shelby Sallee; D Sarah Robertson.
Key Matches: Aug. 24 v. St. Pius (N.M.); Sept. 1 vs. Houston (Tenn.) at Bearden Invitational; Sept. 2 vs. Clarksville (Tenn.) at Bearden Invitational; Sept. 12 vs. Brunswick; Sept. 26 vs. Medina; Oct. 13 vs. Perrysburg.
Summary: Strongsville will be young, but very talented. The Mustangs always load up the schedule and this year will see teams from New Mexico, Tennessee and possibly Maryland, in addition to its instate opponents.
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21
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Peters Township
McMurray, PA
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Outlook: The power has shifted to Western Pennsylvania when it comes to Class AAAA and AAA soccer. Norwin and Moon swept the titles last year with senior-led squads. This year, there's no clear favorite, but Peters Township gets the nod as top PIAA programs to start 2018.
Key Players: M Regan LaVigna (Youngstown State), F Hannah Stuck (Bucknell), GK Emma Sawich, M Natalie Daube.
Key Matches: Sept. 8 and Oct. 1 vs. Upper St. Clair; Sept. 17 and Oct. 8 vs. Moon; Sept. 24 and Oct. 15 vs. Canon-McMillan.
Summary: Although the last three seasons have not been up to Peters' standard, this is a squad that appears poised for a big run in 2018 after playing a lot of underclassmen the past two seasons. Over the past 15 years, Peters has won nearly 85 percent of its matches -- a staggering rate of success for a medium-size public school playing in the state's largest classification.
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22
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St. Anthony's
Melville, NY
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0-0-0
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Outlook: St. Anthony's has long been the class of Catholic League soccer in New York. This team is coming off a perfect season in 2017, and has some significant holes to fill. However, the Friars always find a way to reload.
Key Players: F Brianna Passaro.
Key Matches: Sept. 9 at Shenendehowa; Sept. 24 and Oct. 19 vs. Sacred Heart Academy; Sept. 29 vs. Ridge (N.J.).
Summary: St. Anthony's and Sacred heart again look to be the top teams in the New York Catholic race.
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23
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Washington Township
Sewell, NJ
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0-0-0
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Outlook: With the Shore's Player of the Year returning, Washington Township gets the early nod as a favorite in what appears a pretty competitive group of New Jersey teams. Now that club power PDA has left the Girls DA, those players will be eligible for high school soccer and that could alter the New Jersey landscape quite a bit.
Key Players: GK Jordynn Stallard, F Amanda Attanasi.
Key Matches: Sept. 8 and Oct. 2 vs. Eastern
Summary: Washington Township and Eastern are league rivals, so they will battle it out at least twice and has many as four times this season.
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24
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Pine-Richland
Gibsonia, PA
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0-0-0
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Outlook: With five returning all-league players, Pine-Richland figures to be among the frontrunners in the Pittsburgh area. There are five to seven teams from Pittsburgh that could possibly end up ranked as the top team in District 7.
Key Players: F Megan Donnelly, D Becca Libby; M Caroline Swan, M Alaina Kallin, F Allie Malobicky.
Key Matches: Aug. 21 vs. Upper St. Clair; Sept. 15 and Oct. 3 vs. Fox Chapel.
Summary: Pine-Richland will be the favorite in its league, but the WPIAL playoffs are where things will get interesting.
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25
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Eastern
Voorhees, NJ
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0-0-0
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Outlook: Like Washington, league rival Eastern has some high-end players projected to return. If they are back, look for this team to be a state title contender following last year's undefeated season.
Key Players: F Riley Tiernan (Rutgers), M Kelli McGroarty, D Sara Brocious.
Key Matches: Sept. 8 and Oct. 2 vs. Washington Township.
Summary: Eastern was 21-0-1 last year until an upset loss on penalty kicks in the playoffs. With several key players back, it could be another strong showing for this program.
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