Oxford Hills and Mt. Blue are both on the rise in Class A of the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference.

Oxford Hills returns a solid group. Tia Pratt was the second leading scorer and Teira Durgin has moved up on the front line.

“Depth and experience and team unity are strengths,” Oxford Hills coach Cindy Goddard said. “Pratt should be a top scorer and Durgin has great speed and the ability to score. I hope we can play the top teams tough and be at the top of the next tier.”

Mt. Blue is coming off a 10-8 season and has experience in key positions. The defense is a strength with fullbacks Jennifer Wallace and Olivia Hastings, along with junior goalie Ashley Lewia. A transition game will need to advance the ball.

“We’re still young,” Cougar coach Jeannine Paradis said. “Defense has been our weakness, but we now have the experience we need in some key players to make it a strength.”

The KVAC traditional powers Skowhegan, Messalonskee, Cony and Gardiner, will be on top.

Edward Little and Lew-iston only return a few veterans. Early on in preseason the emphasis was on finding out where players would be most effective. The Red Eddies will need its defense to carry the load at the beginning of the season.

“We have some big shoes to fill,” EL coach Greg Perkins said. “We graduated our big scorers, so we’ll have to wait and see who will take over in the circle.”

The Blue Devils defense will be led by Katie Grant between the pipes. A major shortfall has been a lack of scoring.

In Class B, Leavitt return top scoring forwards Jessica Paladino and Tiffany Poland. Defensively, Kristin Schepper and Jessica Vickerson will be solid in goal.

Belfast, defending state champion, return nearly its entire team. Betsy Gilbert moves up to coach Oak Hill, while Maranacook will be in the playoff hunt.

St. Dom’s should emerge on top in Class C of the Western Maine Conference with Elisha Dorso leading the way.

“We have a veteran team once again,” Saints coach Brian Kay said. “We have a strong defense and our offense should fun to watch. If we put the ball on the net, we will be explosive.”

The main competition will come from North Yarmouth, Old Orchard Beach, Freeport and Sacopee Valley.

In Class B, Poland won four games in 2004 and has a new coach. Fryeburg and Gray-New Gloucester (combined three wins) each look for improvement.

The Mountain Valley Conference features Telstar, which proved to be unstoppable on the way to winning the Class C title last fall. Ten starters return.

Livermore Falls, a regional finalist, also is solid. Returnees Teryn Flagg and Erica Gats each scored 21 goals.

Winthrop will need to rebuild after graduating 14 seniors.

“Our few experienced players will need to carry more than their share of the load,” Ramblers coach Sharon Coulton said. “We have a strong group of sophomores who will cover the halfback positions and add depth at the link positions.”

Jay, Lisbon and Hall Dale will be in the playoff hunt. Dirigo and Mountain Valley, the lone Class B team in the MVC, combined for four wins.

– Bob McPhee