Duneland Athletic Conference

CHESTERTON

Players to watch: Kelsey Phillips, Sr., F/MF; Kate McCusker, Jr., MF/F; Annie Thieling, Jr., MF; Mara Gallo, Sr., MF.

Outlook: McCusker scored 22 goals last season, and she continues to be one of the top offensive players in the area. The Trojans lost 10 players to graduation, but coach Kim Poppo will sprinkle in parts of last year's unbeaten JV squad to fill in the holes.

Quote: "I definitely see us being competitive. I think we're really well-rounded. " -- Poppo

CROWN POINT

Players to watch: Alex Frishau, Jr., G; Sammy Vercellino, Jr., F; Ashley Morphin, C/MF.

Outlook: Coach Chris Mikrut is in his second year of a move from Andrean and has his system in place. Vercellino was a district first-teamer as a sophomore and is as good as anyone in the area. Mikrut said he's taking a cue from Jim Hendry and working backward from October.

Quote: "We think that we have an opportunity to challenge for one of the top spots in the conference this year." -- Mikrut

LAKE CENTRAL

Players to watch: Sam Cook, Sr.; Jessica Gates, Sr. D; Ashley Doreski, Jr., F.

Outlook: This senior class has three consecutive regional championships, and all of the player have big game experience. A huge target is on the Indians' collective back as they can beat teams a multitude of ways. After struggling to find a consistent starter at keeper last year, coach Richard Moore has settled on Brooke Polus between the pipes.

Quote: "This year there are no excuses." -- Moore

MERRILLVILLE

Players to watch: Danice Karbajal, MF, Sr.; Kelly Tarr, Sr. D; Nicole Brindley, F, Jr.

Outlook: Ben Daniel takes over what he calls a "small and young but talented" Pirates squad. Daniel is big on transition soccer, so size shouldn't be too much of a problem. The offense should be potent, but numbers are down, so conditioning will be important.

Quote: "I think they're ready to take on anything." -- Daniel

PORTAGE

Players to watch: Tara Ellis, Jr., MF; Ali Cruse, Sr. G; Carly Bermes, So., MF.; Alicia Vega, Sr., F.

Outlook: Four different players suffered knee injuries last season, including starters Bermes and Vega, but the team enters this season healthy and ready to go. Cruse had a 0.94 goals against average last season to bolster the defense. Ellis plus the skillful combination of Bermes and Vega will put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses.

Outlook: "We're looking forward to what we can do this year. Last year, we saw what happened when we didn't work off the field. These kids really want to play this year." -- coach Amanda Isakson

VALPARAISO

Players to watch: Olivia Sloan, Jr., D; Allison Hess, Jr., MF; Cassie Van Keppel, Sr., F; Kayla Thorpe, Sr. MF; Brittany Vasquez, Sr. D.

Outlook: The Vikings lost 13 players to graduation, including nine starters, but first-year coach and former assistant Robert Cespedes still believes his team will be really competitive.

Quote: "I've worked with some of these girls for three years, so they understand where I stand on things. They understand my expectations. They are excited about this season." -- Cespedes

Northern Indiana Soccer Conference

BISHOP NOLL

Players to watch: Stephanie Seles, MF, Jr.; Kelsey Heinz, D, So.; Jackie Camacho, MF, Jr.

Outlook: The Warriors lost seven starters to graduation, but the junior class is strong. Experience will be tough to replace, but they should be strong in the middle. Numbers are high enough to restart the JV program. Coach Lorenza Jara wants to improve on last year's 12 wins.

Quote: "They're a focused group of young women." -- Jara

BOONE GROVE

Players to watch: Cara Andjelich, Sr., F; Mary Kieffer, Jr., F; Jordan Chester, So., F; Alexis Michalik, MF, Sr; Kelly Dobson, Jr., G.

Outlook: The development of forwards Kieffer and Chester will be crucial toward defending their league crown. Andjelich, who has 64 career goals, will be shadowed. Dobson continues to gain experience between the pipes, and she plays a key part on defense.

Quote: "It will help if we can spread our offense around, because that will alleviate those double and triple teams." coach Chad Roggow

HANOVER CENTRAL

Player to watch: Ashley Schmal, Jr., F.

Outlook: The Wildcats' program is now in Year 4, but it's still a few years away from producing a major contender.

HEBRON

Players to watch: Stephanie Moser, Sr., F; Erica Pauer, Jr., F; Katy Schmidt, So., MF; Alex Lau, Jr., D; Emilie Higgins, Sr. G

Outlook: The Hawks return five seniors to the roster, so the team brings back a lot of experience to the pitch.

Quote: "We're very optimistic this season. Our offense needs some work, but we are gelling on defense. We really hope to compete with Boone for the top spot." -- coach Jim Schmidt

WHEELER

Players to watch: Estelle Galanos, Sr., D; Helena Galanos, Sr., F; Codi Lecniewski, Sr., MF.

Outlook: Starters Kaylin Foster, Christina Gandy (goalie), Abby Zeitler and Erin Gallagher are part of strong class of 10 freshmen that have been added to this year's roster. Combined with seven seniors, this could be an interesting season.

Quote: "I believe we should finish in the top two this year in the conference. We should be very competitive." -- coach Jim Foster

Great Lakes Athletic Conference

CLARK

Players to watch: Jessica Orosco, Sr., F; Essy Alcantor, Sr., D; Vicky Compos, Jr. F.

Outlook: The Pioneers don't have a lot of veterans returning, but they do have what coach Dave Ralston calls "a willingness to learn." However, there's no escaping the fact that it's another year trying to build a consistent program at Clark.

Quote: "We're going to keep plugging away and we're going to try." -- Ralston

GAVIT

Outlook: Coach Coleen Vechay loses a lot to graduation last year. The Gladiators will have trouble competing in the GLAC.

HAMMOND

Players to watch: Paola Diaz, C/MF, Sr.; Priscilla Perez, C, Fr.; Angelica Rodriguez, D. So.

Outlook: Hammond had trouble finishing when it had chances last year, but coach Lisa Anderson hopes to change that this season. Diaz was all-conference as a junior and should get the ball where it needs to be. The Wildcats will be young, though.

Quote: "I feel like we're going to be able to compete at a much higher level this year." -- Anderson

MORTON

Outlook: Morton should again be the class of the GLAC, and this year they've got a brand new facility complete with FieldTurf. Putting the ball in the back of the net will the Governors' strength, again.

Northwest Crossroads Conference

ANDREAN

Player to watch: Kelly Parks, Sr., MF.

Outlook: Andrean spent last year rebuilding a team around all-district midfielder Parks. It's time to see what they've built.

GRIFFITH

Players to watch: Kelly Bubola, Sr., G; Sammy Holmes, Jr., F.

Outlook: Sara McInerney and Christen Yost have decided to forego their senior seasons, and that's going to hurt the Panthers. They will have a lot of speed, but need to take more shots than last year. Bubola in goal should stop the easy ones, and some of the hard ones, too.

Quote: "I thought we surprised some people last year. I think we'll surprise even more people this year." -- Gonzalez

HIGHLAND

Players to watch: Kat Smailis, So., F; Brianne Kikolof, Jr., F; Alison Kowalkowski, Sr. MF.

Outlook: Coach Gordon Walker hasn't yet found a goalkeeper, but four girls are competing in camp. Defense is always a strength in Highland, but the loss of Brook Jones will be hard to replace. Walker likes his freshman class, but they're still a year or two away from making a real difference.

Quote: "We're very young and very inexperienced. I just want them to be competitive." -- Walker

HOBART

Players to watch: Brittany Morgan, Jr., F; Ashley Fussel, So., D.

Outlook: The Brickies lose only two starters, but Karin Demo and Lindsay Yzenas left big shoes to fill. Coach Ken Klein says his team is young, with a handful of seniors. Hobart should be competitive in the NCC.

Quote: "These seniors have two conference titles, so they know how to win." -- Klein

KANKAKEE VALLEY

Player to watch: Brandee Hudspeth, Jr., F.

Outlook: It's John Hufnagel's second season at the helm, and the Kougars all have experience in his style of play. Most of the team is back, but some of the losses were at key positions.

LOWELL

Players to watch: Erin Gavelek, Sr., F; Kesli Blankenship, Jr, F; Nicole Melendez, So., MF.

Outlook: The Red Devils have to find away to replace Stephanie Blankenship's 4.3 points per game, and they're going to try to do it by committee. Gavelek and Blankenship's sister Kesli will lead a team that should look more diverse than in years past.

Quote: "If they step up and play to their potential we'll do well. If not, we won't." -- coach Kim Gavelek

MUNSTER

Players to watch: Leah Brousalis, Sr., F; Jessica Goodrich, Jr., D; Eleni Agelopoulos, So., F.

Outlook: Former JV coach Valerie Pflum steps up to run a team that should be heavy favorites in the NCC. Brousalis is one of the Region's best and Goodrich isn't bad, either. Ball movement was a slight problem last year, but Pflum has her team working on its passes in camp.

Quote: "My expectations have raised." -- Pflum

Others

E.C. CENTRAL

Outlook: Cecilia Ferrara is the third head coach in three years at E.C. During that span, the play on the field has reflected the stability of the boss. Ferrara will try to reverse that trend in 2008.

RENSSELAER

Players to watch: Nichole Vanderwall, Sr., GK; Jodi Kaufman, Jr., F.

Outlook: Linda Kaufman starts her second year as head coach of the Bombers with a team that lost eight seniors. The void left by Jenna Rodibaugh will be particularly hard to fill. Only four players return from last year's sectional runner-up team.