High Point
Coach: Bev Keur (22nd season, 311-113-14 in three stints)
2011 record: 20-2, 13-0 (first place NJAC American Division)
Key returnees: F Darby Smith, sr. (25 goals, 47 last two years); F Maureen Gill, sr. (7 goals); D Michaela Macken, sr.; F Carly Satter, jr.
Key losses: MF Sarah Clark; D Bea Cannavale (8 goals); MF Sashal Hagan (11 assists); F Nikki Hull (18 goals); F Brittany Papa (14 goals); D Shannon Havens; D Kelsey Fleury; GK Kelsey Stoll, sr. (9 shutouts).
Top newcomers: GK Brittany McKay, sr.; GK Ashley Morrow, sr.; D Danielle Stetzel, sr.; GK Erin Williams, sr.; MF Michaela O'Hern, jr.; F Alexis Ambrosino, so.; F Tierney Clark, so.; MF Kristen English, so.
Outlook: Wildcats lost 13 seniors, including eight starters, to graduation after posting 20 wins for the second straight year in 2011. A lot of offense went out the doors in Wantage with the departures of Hull, Hagan and Papa -- as 51 of the team's 86 goals graduated. First and foremost, though, will be finding a replacement for Stoll in the cage. High Point was a solid defensive team a year ago and Macken will help anchor that group this fall. Smith is one of the top scorers around and should become the school's career points leader this season, while Gill emerged last season as a capable scorer. The lack of experience will hurt and another run to a sectional final will be tough to duplicate. 'Cats also dropped from Group 3 to Group 2 this season.
Kittatinny
Coach: Heather Reynolds (4th season, 19-28-4)
2011 record: 6-9-1, 2-5-1 (fourth place NJAC Freedom Division)
Key returnees: F Sam Hennet, sr.; F Lyle Freeman, sr.; F Megan Calascibetta, sr.; D Dana Yanvary, so.
Key losses: F Savannah Quinn; F Dylan Bradley; MF/F Michaela Virga; MF/D Katie Kandel; MF/D Molly DeLaney; D Nicole Mazzacchi; GK Melissa Calascibetta.
Top newcomers: N/A.
Outlook: Cougars were hit with heavy graduation losses, particularly on defense. The loss of Melissa Calascibetta in the cage is big, so finding a replacement will be paramount if this program is to get back over the .500 mark. Megan Calascibetta was the team's leading scorer last season with seven goals. Otherwise, the offense was rather pedestrian as the Cougars scored a total of 16 goals. If the offense improves and the defense holds, a .500 record is a possibility.
Lenape Valley
Coach: Kate Rothman (2nd season, 3-13-1)
2011 record: 3-13-1, 1-7 (fifth place NJAC Freedom Division)
Key returnees: MF Sally Olson, so.; F Alyssa Falleni, so.; F Aurora Eckstein, sr.; D Emily Zimmer, sr.
Key losses: MF Jenna Tambasco; MF Meg Delagrange; GK Deanna Utter.
Top newcomers: GK Jeannine Lubin, sr.; MF Isabelle Becker, so.; F Hollis Smith, fr.; F Morgan Cone, jr.
Outlook: Patriots took their lumps in Rothman's first season at the helm. Offensively, last year's unit produced just 10 goals in 17 games. Lenape is counting on Falleni, who scored three of those, to increase that total this fall. Defensively, the loss of Utter is huge. She held opponents to one goal or fewer in nine games last season. Pats will continue the rebuilding process in 2012.
Newton
Coach: Lisa Bechtel (23rd season, 330-104-10)
2011 record: 9-6-1, 4-3-1 (second place NJAC Freedom Division)
Key returnees: F-MF Melanie Rudio, sr. (10 goals, 14 assists); F-MF Katherine Kellenberger, jr,; MF Melissa Bencivenga, jr.; D Alexis Picarella, sr.; MF Steph Mocerino, sr.; MF Pauline Tabaranza, sr; D Emily Ventura, sr.
Key losses: MF Alicia Grotyohann; GK Amanda Norman (14 shutouts); D Sam Hofmann; MF Kelsi Huber; MF Jenny Diener; MF Nicole Petrillo; F Kayla Kahn.
Top newcomers: GK Audrey Kelly, sr.; F Karlee Liddy, sr.; D Monica Wilder, sr.; D Paige Zawislak, jr.; D Naomi Zoko, jr.; F Sam Brewster, so.; MF Carly Dykstra, so.
Outlook: Braves lost some talented players to graduation and eight seniors overall from last year's team that went 1-1 in the North 1, Group 2 playoffs, but struggled against the better teams on the schedule. The loss of Norman is significant with no experienced keeper returning. Always a solid defensive team, Newton will need to find a reliable goalie. Rudio, last year's leading scorer, returns to anchor an offense that struggled in producing 28 goals a year ago. This young group will need a year to mature.
Pope John
Coach: Gina DiMaio (first season)
2011 record: 7-11, 7-7 (fifth place NJAC American Division)
Key returnees: F Lydia Hoff, sr.; D Nicola Sarao, jr.; F Rachel Spetz, sr.; F Beth Dauer, sr.
Key losses: MF Meghan Chrobock; F Shannon Connell; D Lauren Grosso; F Genna Lapola; MF Sydney Logan; F Kimberly Piwko; GK Jenna Gloria.
Top newcomers: F Molly Romania, so.; D Elizabeth Frye, sr.; MF Taylor Bailey, so.; D Baylee Vazzo, so.; F-MF Sara Gonzalez, so.; D Natalie Martin, so.; GK Sam Scalabrini, so.; GK Kelsey Sullivan, so.
Outlook: DiMaio, the highly successful former coach at Hackettstown, takes over the Lions, who went 28-29-2 the previous three seasons under Susan Blanchard. The cupboard isn't exactly stocked, but DiMaio will get the most out of what she has here. Hoff was among the team's leading scorers a year ago with seven goals. Scalabrini got some varsity experience in the cage last season which should help the defense. Aside from the 17 goals they scored in games against Sparta and Mount Olive, the Lions only amassed 17 in the other 15 games, so finding a consistent attack will be the key to a successful campaign.
Sparta
Coach: Kristin Savasta (first season)
2011 record: 0-16, 0-13 (eighth place NJAC American Division)
Key returnees: MF Maya Drummond, sr.; D Liz Anderson, jr.; F Lauren Hunt, sr.; D Emily Melberger, jr.; F Maggie DePaul, sr.; MF Lauren Fabiano, sr.; MF Sam Mornhineway, sr.; D Mia Finkle, sr.; F Ally Matchett, jr.; GK Julia Keenan, jr.
Key losses: GK Jacquee Quinn.
Top newcomers: MF Julia Silvestri.
Outlook: Spartans have struggled the previous three years, going 9-59-2 over that time. Savasta takes over for Emily Scott, who guided the program for eight seasons. After a winless campaign, there is no where to go but up in 2012. Scoring will be a priority after a total of two goals last season. Quinn was a steady goalkeeper, so that will be another challenge for this group. It will be baby steps for the new coach.
Vernon
Coach: Hollyce Schoepp (3rd season, 25-15-1)
2011 record: 15-6, 11-3 (second place NJAC American Division)
Key returnees: F Rachel Colvin (24 goals), F Kim Leung, sr.; sr.; D Julie Cacace, jr.
Key losses: MF Steph Peterson; F Melody Prisco (19 goals); F Kayla Turner-Boss (16 goals); MF Jessica Lambert; MF Kate Moran; GK Rhonda Richardsen.
Top newcomers: N/A.
Outlook: Vikings were another group to be hit hard by graduation, losing 35 goals between Turner-Boss and Prisco. Actually, Turner-Boss was lost 10 games into last season with an injury. Colvin did a nice job of stepping up on offense and led the team in goals scored. She will be the leader of the offense, while the defense looks to retool after the loss of Richardsen, a solid goalie. Should be a bit of a rebuilding year for a team two years removed from a sectional final.
Wallkill Valley
Coach: Irene Chernati (27th season, 334-166-5)
2011 record: 14-5, 8-0 (first place NJAC Freedom)
Key returnees: F Andreanna Nordland, sr. (8 goals); GK Emily Stukenborg, sr. (11 shutouts); D Olivia Ganz, sr.; F Kylee Kulsar, sr.; D Rachel Fiedler, sr.; F Casey Pustelniak, jr.; F Barbara Hannan, jr.; MF Katelynn Higgins, jr.
Key losses: MF Brittany Harlos; D Kristina Garrera; F Felicia Wetzel; D Katie Bencivenga.
Top newcomers: MF Emma Chick, jr.; MF Courtney Berado, jr.; D Alyssa Cooke, sr.; F Laura David, so.; D Alexis Cohan, so.; MF Meg Good, so.; MF Catherine Readmond, so.; D Erica McNaulty, fr.; D Brianna Sabatello, jr.
Outlook: Rangers sustained some key losses from last season, most notably Harlos and Garrera. But the biggest plus is the return of Stukenborg, a three-year starter in the cage who has 20 shutouts the last two seasons. She will anchor the defense, which figures to be fine with Fielder also back. Nordland scored 17 goals as a freshman and has totaled that many the past two seasons. She will need to take charge more on the scoring end if this team is to repeat as division champs and make a run in the North 1, Group 2 playoffs.
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