Top 10 Teams
1. Munster: Saveda Majety, last season’s Post-Tribune Girls Soccer Player of the Year, returns after Mustangs won first sectional since 2012 and first regional since 2009. Defenders Jaycee Helmer, Kayleigh Yaeger and Lizzie Fies, goalkeeper Olivia Kindt and midfielder Olivia Foley also are back. Leading scorer Cami Kekelik, who suffered an ACL tear, hopes to return in late September. Improved sophomore Addy Andello, who produced as a freshman, looks to pick up more of the slack.
2. Lake Central: Indians have only three seniors back from Duneland Athletic Conference champion, but have ability. Junior Sydney Dragos is key as a center midfielder, as is sophomore Stephanie Dijak. Anika Berg moves to central defender after starting outside as a freshman. Midfielder Mackenzie Rainwater joins the team as a freshman. Graduates include defender Rachel Inglese, midfielder Madison Berumen and forward Sienna Pinskey.
3. Crown Point: With 10 sophomores, Bulldogs are young but still talented. Four-year starter Delaney Benich is a top forward, joined up front by junior Haneen Abdulla. Senior Samantha Szyndrowski and sophomore Leah Surufka return as central defenders. Graduates include midfielder Malorie Henderlong and defender Katrina Ornelas.
4. Chesterton: Trojans return seven starters from first sectional champion since 2010. Junior Courtney Krol and sophomore Olivia Hansen should form a strong central midfield. Forward Carley Perkins and central defender Madi Callaway, both juniors, also return. Trojans graduated players in forwards Kaylee Lindahl and Desiree Bell and midfielder Katie Green, but Lindahl and Green suffered through injuries.
5. Valparaiso: Vikings saw streak of five straight sectional titles come to an end last year. Senior forward Stephanie Sgouroudis and senior midfielder Emily Farmer are among the players who will try to help start a new streak.
6. Andrean: Senior midfielder/forward Danielle Tazic led 59ers to first sectional and regional titles since 2004. She has plenty of company with 12 other letterwinners, including midfielders Tessa Wojkovich, Elly Samuels and Rylee Horn, defenders Logan Bosak and Kierra Markham, and forward Hanna Sarosy.
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7: Kankakee Valley: Senior forward Raegan Walther led Kougars to first sectional title since 2009. Forward Reilly Dattilo and midfielder/defender Abby Klemp, both seniors, also return.
8. Griffith: Glenn Maglish takes over as Panthers coach. He has considerable talent on the roster, including forwards Megan Miller and Michelle Beck, defender Bella Maglish, goalkeeper Bridget Beck and midfielder/defender Rachel Kruhaj, all seniors.
9. Highland: Senior midfielder/forward Sierra Hinkel headlines Trojans. Junior forward Jen Sheehan and senior defender/midfielder Sophie Whiting also are back.
10. Wheeler: Bearcats lost a standout class, including midfielders Terra Philips and Kelley Fey and defenders Mady Crowder and Mari Zeitlow — all four-year starters. Senior goalkeeper Kadie Spoor returns, as do forwards Claudia Philips and Megan Kirkland and defenders Kaitlyn Asher and Maycee Zeitlow. Bearcats also have several promising newcomers.
Top 20 Individuals
Stacey Barron, Marquette, junior, forward/midfielder; Delaney Benich, Crown Point, senior, forward; Anika Berg, Lake Central, sophomore, defender; Reilly Dattilo, Kankakee Valley, senior, forward; Sydney Dragos, Lake Central, junior, midfielder; Olivia Hansen, Chesterton, sophomore, midfielder; Jaycee Helmer, Munster, junior, defender; Sierra Hinkel, Highland, senior, midfielder/forward; Olivia Kindt, Munster, senior, goalkeeper; Abby Klemp, Kankakee Valley, senior, midfielder/defender; Courtney Krol, Chesterton, junior, midfielder; Macy Llewellyn, LaPorte, senior, midfielder; Bella Maglish, Griffith, senior, defender; Saveda Majety, Munster, senior, midfielder; Megan Miller, Griffith, senior, forward; Stephanie Sgouroudis, Valparaiso, senior, forward; Kadie Spoor, Wheeler, senior, goalkeeper; Danielle Tazic, Andrean, senior, midfielder/forward; Raegan Walther, Kankakee Valley, senior, forward; Meagan Wise, Merrillville, junior, midfielder.
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff