• Eagan: The Wildcats return eight regulars from last year's 16-2-4 squad. Their biggest concern is the lack of scoring coming back, but they will utilize their experience and speed to make up for it.

• Eastview: Don't be fooled by the lack of experience for the Lightning. They have a couple of speed demons in seniors Leah Nesheim and Paris Sanders back from a team that went 10-5-4 in 2010.

• Lakeville North: The Panthers finished just below .500 (7-8-2) a year ago but bring back eight of their top nine scorers. Four of their losses in 2010 were by 1-0 scores.

• Northfield: Troy Cohrs' squad has chance to return to the state tournament for the first time since 2006. The Raiders only had three seniors on last year's Section 1 runner-up squad.

• Rosemount: The Irish lost top scorer Shade Pratt to graduation but return eight regulars from last year's 11-5-4 team. They gave up more than one goal only six times in 2010 and welcome back four defenders and junior goalkeeper Kate Mallory from that group.

PLAYERS TO WATCH• Ashley Kimmell, Farmington, midfielder, sr.: The Division I recruit was derailed by injuries in 2010. If Kimmell stays healthy, she could become the Tigers' third all-state player in the past three years.

• Kristin Knutson, Eagan, goalkeeper, sr.: Knutson was tough to beat a year ago, yielding 14 goals in 21 games. She has given a verbal commitment to the Gophers.

• Lizzie Lukas, South St. Paul, attacker, sr.: As a junior, Lukas had seven games with at least two goals. She finished the year with 23 goals and 13 assists and was a Class 1A all-state selection.

• Jill Richgels, Simley, attacker, sr.: Richgels was a 20-goal scorer for the Spartans' 11-6-3 squad of a year ago. She was a Class 1A all-state selection as a junior.

• Brianna Stelzer, Lakeville South, midfielder, sr.: Stelzer had nine goals and three assists last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the seventh game. The honorable-mention all-state selection is headed to Wisconsin.

RON HAGGSTROM