BENET
The Redwings will be one of the favorites to win the Class 2A state title. They return 17 players, including eight starters, from the 2022 team that was the state runner-up. They boast four Division I commits in defenders Sadie Sterbenz (Middle Tennessee State) and Nora Hanson (Stetson), midfielder Brinkley Douglas (Richmond) and goalkeeper Shannon Clark (Denver). Keira Petrucelli, Anna Casmere and Rachel Burns lead a diversified offense.
METEA VALLEY
The Mustangs look to defend their Class 3A state championship as they bring back all of their top scorers, including Jordan Lange (North Central), Tyra King (Northern Illinois) and Lucy Burk (Northern Michigan). Kaylee Bannack (Case Western) and Alyssa Parrilli lead the defense in front of goalkeeper Alyssa Gluting, while Cydnie Bayless (Northern Illinois) will play a bigger role in the midfield.
NAPERVILLE CENTRAL
Troy Adams, who coached the boys team to its first state title in the fall, takes over for retired Hall of Famer Ed Watson. He inherits a team that returns five starters from a 15-win team, including two of the top players in the state in midfielder Megan Norkett (Northwestern) and defender Ella Burke (Cincinnati). Also back are defender Taylor Walk, forward Lauren Thorne and forward Becca Ruggiero.
NAPERVILLE NORTH
The Huskies face what for them passes for a rebuilding season after graduating nine starters from a team that won a regional title. Forward Cameron DeCook and defender Maggie Fitzgerald are the only big names back, but the Huskies haven’t come close to having a losing season since Steve Goletz took over as coach in 2012.
NEUQUA VALLEY
Hall of Fame coach Joe Moreau has retired and been succeeded by Arnoldo Gonzalez, who also coaches the boys team. The Wildcats have 15 returning players, but the only ones who have started are forward Selma Larbi, who scored nine goals as a freshman, and forward Anna Yuccas, who had seven goals.
WAUBONSIE VALLEY
Julie Bergstrom enters her 24th season as coach needing two victories to reach 250 for her career. Eleanor Oster was an all-conference honorable mention last season. Ceci Galarza, Asa Potts and Katie Chapman are the other top returnees on a young roster with no college commits.
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.