Girls' Soccer (Winter) Top 25 Rankings
Preseason National Rankings
Unlike winter boys' soccer, where it was difficult to find a strong No. 1 candidate, the girls' soccer scene seems loaded with talented teams this season.
Coppell, the defending Texas 5A state champion, gets the early nod thanks to a loaded roster and demanding schedule. The Cowgirls will compete in the Nolan Showcase against some of the top programs in the country.
Meanwhile, Melbourne (Fla.), last year's FAB 50 national champ, will start No. 2 as it returns most of its roster. Melbourne has an easier road to a state title than does Coppell, yet a second straight undefeated season may result in back-to-back FAB 50 titles for this Florida power.
In California, San Clemente and Long Beach Wilson are expected to challenge for the Southern Section Division I crown, and with it usually comes a very high FAB 50 ranking.
Even FAB 50 preseason No. 5 McKinney Boyd (Texas), with a pair of Oklahoma-bound stars from the Dallas Texans, had a case for preseason No. 1.
With Coppell at No. 1 and the Texas season not starting until early January, the top spot will not change until mid-January, at the earliest.
The preseason rankings are based largely on which players are expected to return. Like the winter boys' scene, some elite high school-aged players may skip the season to focus on club soccer. However, it does not appear that the girls' game is affected as much as the boys' teams.
Preseason Top 25 Rank with Notes/Comments
1 Coppell (Coppell, TX)
Missouri-bound Alyssa Diggs, Spayne Avant and youth national team member Chioma Ubogagu highlight the roster. Coppell returns 10 starters from last year's state title team and picks up Katie Bass, who has committed to SMU, after she sat out last season to injury.
2 Melbourne (Melbourne, FL)
The list of returners is quite impressive for this defending state champion: Kristin Grubka (32 goals, 15 assists -- and played some keeper), Nicole DiPerna (26 goals, 18 assists) and Rachel Price (24 goals, seven assists).
3 San Clemente (San Clemente, CA)
Last year's section champ figures to reload in 2010. The team returns all-section first-teamer Frannie Coxe and second-teamers Shelby Chamber-Garcia and Greer Zerboni.
4 Woodrow Wilson (Long Beach, CA)
West Virginia commit Emily Dillon highlights a roster that includes three other returning all-section honorees: Kaitlin Hellmann, Kim Marshall and Brittany Vaughn.
5 Boyd (McKinney, TX)
Oklahoma commits Emily Reid and Kelley Monogue highlight a talented Boyd roster. In addition to the major prospects, the team brings back all-district performers Lauren Katada and Megan Streight.
6 Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, AZ)
Sam Cummings and Annie Graham return after earning first-team all-state honors last year. Xavier College Prep took its only losses in California last season, and this year's team should be stronger with eight returning starters.
7 Ursuline Academy (Dallas, TX)
Ursuline graduated two superstars in Sophie Campise and Alina Garciamendez, but returns 19 players from last year's state title-winning team. Jana Jeffrey is the highest profile player.
8 Westview (San Diego, CA)
Despite the loss of UCLA signee Courtney Lovelace, Westview gets the slight nod over Torrey Pines as No. 1 in San Diego. Westview returns first-team all-league picks Niki Rendler and Cassie Collins, along with second-team picks Sarah Adams and Shannon Hardy from a section championship-winning team.
9 Santa Margarita Catholic HS (RanchoStMargarita, CA)
Junior standout Lauren Bohaboy returns for this perennial Southern California section challenger. The team also brings back all-section honoree Leigh Edward.
10 The Woodlands (The Woodlands, TX)
Kylie Cook returns following a 27-goal, 13-assist junior season. The Woodlands will be favored in the Houston area.
11 Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos, CA)
Ari Carillo and Shannon Ward are back for this Southern California power. Los Al and San Clemente will clash in league play.
12 Carondelet (Concord, CA)
Kory Lamet is the top returner for a team that brings back almost its entire starting lineup from last year's FAB 50-ranked squad. Carondelet is the coaches' pick as section favorites in Northern California.
13 Castro Valley (Castro Valley, CA)
With almost its entire lineup back, Castro Valley is labeled a serious section title challenger this year. Senior Micaela Castian received second-team all-area honors last year, the highest honors among the returning group.
14 Ponte Vedra (Ponte Vedra, FL)
With an influx of players from the Ponte Vedra club soccer team, the high school squad could be in for another state title-winning season. Jackie Hellett returns after scoring 31 goals. Ashley Nicol, Jessica Stephens and Emily Vergo return after earning all-area honors.
15 Nolan Catholic (Fort Worth, TX)
Nolan Catholic, the perennial state runner-up to Ursuline Academy, will be in the title chase again this year. The team's showing at the Nolan Showcase will play an important role in their future rankings.
16 Amador Valley (Pleasanton, CA)
Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick, one of the nation's top prospects and a youth national team member, highlights Amador Valley's lineup.
17 Buchanan (Clovis, CA)
Kacey Held, coming off a 19-goal, 13-assist season, returns for this perennial section challenger. Held has committed to Cal Poly.
18 Torrey Pines (Encinitas, CA)
Led by junior standout Allie Bailey, Torrey Pines figures to be in the section title running again this season. Taylor Sims also returns for this perennial San Diego power.
19 St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park, FL)
Carson Pickett and Sarah Voigt, a pair of national recruits, could lift St. John's Country Day to a lofty national ranking in 2010, if both play high school soccer. Pickett had 26 goals and 30 assists last season. Voigt, a youth national team keeper, allowed only six goals in 25 matches.
20 Boca Raton Community (Boca Raton, FL)
Boca Raton returns the area's large-school player of the year in keeper Caitlin Woody, along with Kelly Costopolous (14 goals, 16 assists) and Alex Major.
21 San Ramon Valley (Danville, CA)
San Ramon Valley pulled off a major upset last year to claim its fourth straight section title. The team returns seven starters and brings in four freshmen from club national champ Mustang FC.
22 James Martin (Arlington, TX)
Martin is this year's Texas wild card. The team returns the section's Attacker of the Year along with three other first-team all-district performers.
23 Esperanza (Anaheim, CA)
Esperanza graduated a talented senior class, which included signees to Southern Cal and Tennessee, among others. However, Katie Gallenes and Erica Mazeau return after earning all-section honors last season.
24 Burlingame (Burlingame, CA)
The two-time defending section champ returns all-area pick and Division I recruit Taylor McCann at forward and defenders Sarah Fraser, Cassie Root and Allison Daley.
25 George Jenkins (Lakeland, FL)
This Lakeland power won a state title in 2008 and gave it a good run in 2009 with a very young team. Despite the graduation of current Florida freshman Kayla Bala, George Jenkins remains a title challenger.
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