By DAVID COOK
DIVISION 1
Top teams in the state: Grandville, Utica Eisenhower, Northview, East Kentwood
Top area teams: Rochester Stoney Creek, Walled Lake Northern, Novi
Stoney Creek has as much talent as any team in the state and is primed for a run at the state title. Senior forward Jamison Midgley is a returning first-team all-stater who is headed to Butler University. Junior forward Taylor Paradoski and senior midfielder Maria Zandi also earned all-state honors last season.
Walled Lake Northern has a veteran team that plays solid defense. Senior midfielder Emma Voelker earned all-state honors last year. Senior Caitlyn Oliver anchors the defense in goal, with seniors Rachel Rodeheffer and Marisa Pyden back in the midfield.
Novi is a perennial soccer power that boasts a solid defense this season. Senior Amanda Minissale leads the defense, while junior Megan Riley anchors the midfield.
More area teams to watch:
Grand Ledge will be able to put points on the scoreboard, thanks to the return of seniors Sophie Guzman and Maddy Edmunds. Guzman is a three-time all-conference player.
Holt returns senior midfielder Tara Liermen, who is a returning all-state player. Seniors Micalah Blohm and Erica Pratt are a pair of returning all-conference players.
Okemos reached the state semifinal last season but suffered heavy graduation losses. The Chieftains do return all-state goalkeeper Vanessa Nigg, along with senior midfielder Erin Doster, who also earned all-state honors. Senior Erin O’Connor is a returning all-conference player.
Grand Blanc reached the regional final last season and looks to be solid again this year. The Bobcats are paced by senior forward Annie Walker, a first-team all-state pick last year. They have a standout keeper in senior Brianna Klaus, while junior midfielder Lexi Trudeau also earned all-state honors.
Midland Dow has a solid squad, paced by senior midfielder Maya Piper, who is a returning all-state player.
DIVISION 2
Top teams in the state: Lake, Regina, Trenton
Top area teams: Marian, Ladywood, DeWitt
Marian reached the state final last year, where it fell to Gull Lake. It returns eight starters, led by a trio of players who earned second-team all-state honors. Senior Megan Bricely is in goal, senior Jaclyn Engel is at midfield, and senior Sarah George anchors the defense. Talented sophomore forward Hannah Redoute also returns.
Ladywood reached the state semifinal last year. Junior defender Conner Huggins earned first-team all-state honors. The offense is paced by senior Sam Riga, who also earned first-team all-state. Senior Kennedi Bullard is another talented forward.
DeWitt has a young, but highly talented, team this season. The Panthers return a pair of all-state players in junior defender Brianna Bishop and junior midfielder Allison Sims. Sophomore Mackenzie Dawes earned all-conference honors last year, as she scored 21 goals. Sophomore Jessah McManus is another returning all-conference player.
More area teams to watch:
South Lyon East has a solid squad, led by senior goalkeeper Alyssa Sawyer and junior midfielder Sydney O’Donnell, who both earned all-state honors last season.
Avondale is led by senior midfielder Allison Hartman, a returning all-state player. Sophomore forward Katelyn Mather leads the offense.
Fenton has a solid squad, paced by junior midfielder Bri Costigan, a second-team all-conference player. Senior midfielder Brennan Sullivan is a returning all-stater for the Tigers.
Linden will battle Fenton for league honors this season. The Eagles feature a solid defense, anchored by senior Grace Walterhouse, while junior midfielder Katie Wilkowski is a returning all-state player.
Owosso looks to be improved this season. Senior forward Brittney Crawford is a returning all-conference player who paces the offense. Anna Raffaelli will also help the offense. Senior Courtney Constine is a returning all-conference midfielder and is joined by Abbey Edwards. Senior all-conference player Megan McGill anchors the defense.
Haslett is led by senior defender Shannon Szedlack, who earned second-team all-state honors last year.
Mason returns plenty of talent from a solid team. Senior defender Erica Bartlett earned all-state honors last year. The Bulldogs also return a number of all-conference players, led by seniors Hannah Darmofal, Kelleigh Pier, and Nataliea Milashus and junior Marissa Pease.
St. Johns looks to be improved this season. Seniors Maddie Wilsey and Sarah Drury are a pair of returning all-conference players. Seniors Kylie Hollis and Cassie Rapelje earned all-league honors last year.
Mt. Pleasant was hit hard by graduation. The Oilers, who have won back-to-back district titles, will look for junior Hannah Kahn to anchor the squad.
DIVISION 3
Top teams in the state: Unity Christian, Lumen Christi Catholic, Grosse Ile
Top teams in the area: Powers Catholic, Detroit Country Day, Frankenmuth
Detroit Country Day returns a number of standouts from a team that reached the state title game. Sophomore midfielder Dagny Hill earned second-team all-state honors, along with senior defender Jenna Staudt. Sophomore goalkeeper Isabel Nino was a third-team all-state player last year. Senior Libby Ronchetto anchors the Country Day defensive corps, with senior Emily Fisher returning at midfield.
Powers Catholic returns plenty of talent from a team that reached the regional final, including a trio of honorable-mention all-staters. Senior Kennedy Clothier anchors the midfield, sophomore Rachel Phillpotts heads up the defense, and senior Andrea Glubzinski spearheads the offense.
Frankenmuth also reached the regional final last season. The Eagles welcome back sophomore midfielder Lillian Schmidt. They have plenty of offensive options, led by Laurin Keyes, Kendra Thompson, and Kennedy Oparka.
More area teams to watch:
Freeland enjoyed a big season last year, as it reached the state semifinal. Senior Taryn Taugher is a returning first-team all-state forward. Seniors Taylor Herring and Gabrielle Mills and sophomore Michelle Herring earned honorable-mention all-state honors as midfielders, while senior Hannah Foy did the same in goal.
Swan Valley returns junior forward Taylor Farrand, who earned third-team all-conference honors last season.
Ovid-Elsie captured the Tri-Valley West last season and is geared up for another big year. Senior forward Victoria Stutzman scored 27 goals last year enroute to earning second-team all-state honors. Senior defender Logan Trefil anchors the defense and is a returning all-stater. Junior Megan Walter is a returning all-conference goalkeeper, while junior Courtney Loynes also earned all-conference.
Birch Run has a high-powered offense, led by sophomore forward Madison Enderle and sophomore forward Mackenzie Stafford. Senior Cheyenne Enderle returns at midfield with sophomore Kalyn Breckenridge in goal.
Williamston is strong in goal with the return of junior all-stater Grace Kraft. Senior defender Laena Blanchard also earned all-state honors. Senior Grace Canfield and junior Sarah Tuggle are returning all-conference players.
Lansing Catholic has a solid defensive team, led by junior defender Katie Burns, who earned all-state honors. The Cougars also have a number of all-conference players returning, including senior defender Jessie Plaehn, junior forward Shannon Crilley, and sophomore midfielders Abigail Gilmore and Olivia Poupard.
Lakewood returns high-scoring junior forward Mallory Durham. Senior Danielle Kosten and junior Bryeana Littlefield are returning all-conference players.
Big Rapids is led this season by junior midfielder Hannah Davis, who earned all-conference honors.
Tri-County has a solid defense this year, led by senior defender Karly Drouin, a returning all-conference player.
DIVISION 4
Top teams in the state: Calvin Christian, Charlevoix, Lake Michigan Catholic
Top area teams: Everest Collegiate – Our Lady of the Lakes, Nouvel Catholic Central, Lansing Christian
Everest Collegiate – Our Lady of the Lakes reached the state title match last season, where it fell to three-time state champion Calvin Christian. Another deep tournament run is possible this year behind junior midfielder Alex Troy and senior defender Shelby Mann, who both earned all-state honors.
Nouvel Catholic Central returns a pair of second-team all-state selections in senior goalkeeper Ali Boucier and senior midfielder Gabrielle Helpap.
Lansing Christian is paced by senior forward Emily Voss, who was a third-team all-state selection.
More area teams to watch:
Oakland Christian returns a pair of all-state players in sophomore forward Victoria Lucido and junor midfielder Lilly Gould.
Laingsburg will have a potent offense, thanks to the return of junior Megan Essenburg and senior Jessica Darr. The all-staters combined for 31 goals last year.
Byron is led by senior forward Kathryn Atkinson, who was an all-state selection last year.
Valley Lutheran is led by junior midfielder Natalie Nitschmann, an all-state pick last year.