MVC

The Mountain Valley Conference sent two teams to regional championship games a year ago. What’s rare is that neither one of them was a Western Class C club.

Of course, the combining of two perennial small-school powers, Jay and Livermore Falls, into Spruce Mountain changed the balance of power a bit. All the Phoenix did in their inaugural regular season was go undefeated before dropping a wild semifinal to league rival Mountain Valley. With a variety of offensive weapons returning to the fold, including Erin Gats, and a league-high 40 players in the program, Spruce could again make a run at perfection.

There’s an equal amount of excitement in Winthrop, where the Ramblers probably were a year ahead of schedule in storming to the Eastern Class C title in 2011. Only two seniors graduated, and the explosiveness of Lauren Kaiser, Rachel Ingram and Mary Claire Blanchard and the steadiness of goalkeeper Alyssa Arsenault have Winthrop primed for a repeat.

Among the Western C contenders, Lisbon could emerge as top dog. The Greyhounds were young an autumn ago, when they pushed NYA to the brink in a regional semifinal, and they’ll be young again, with only two seniors in the mix. Almost all of the team’s scoring punch returns, however. If the young goaltenders get into a comfort zone early, expect Lisbon in the title chase for the long haul.

Mountain Valley reached its first-ever Western Class B title game a year ago. Leading scorer Nicole Burgess is back, but most of the players surrounding her will be filling those positions at the varsity level for the first time. The Falcons are a club that should gain momentum as the season wears on.

Telstar is only two years separated from a berth in the Western C final, so don’t be surprised if the Rebels enjoy a bounce-back year. Dirigo and St. Dom’s are dominated by underclass players, and each expects to improve dramatically from the combined two wins and one tie of a year ago.

Spicing up the league is the addition of Oak Hill, which won only one game in its KVAC farewell but features a roster dominated by sophomores who have shown a long-term commitment to field hockey. The Raiders already own a convincing preseason win over Mountain Valley, so they have proven that they can compete.

KVAC

The local Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference programs always have an uphill climb to stick their nose into the mix with perennial state champion Skowhegan, Cony and Messalonskee. Lawrence made it a four-team party a year ago, as evidenced by the Bulldogs’ three wins over Edward Little.

EL will shift new faces into new places in its quest for a return to the playoffs. The Red Eddies do have experienced centerpieces up the middle in seniors Hannah Johnston (forward), Sam Goulette (back) and Amanda Williams (goal).

There’s renewed excitement in Lewiston, where energetic first-year coach Randy Richardson arrived this summer and found a competitive crop of 40 players in camp. Seven seniors and seven juniors have been through the bumpy road of five total wins the past two years and appear poised to make a healthy jump. The Devils are strong in the midfield, where seniors Kelsey Dumond, Sadie Poulin and Natalie Rousseau all roam.

Oxford Hills is a fixture in the playoff picture and has the firepower to stay in focus. Defense should be a strength with three seniors, including goalie Abi Egan, camped out at the back line.

In the Class B division, Leavitt features nine returning players who figured prominently in a team that reached the Western quarterfinals a year ago. Cheryl Fichter and Brianna DeGone are proven scorers, and Sadie Royer, Emily Shaw and Morgan Shaw are versatile players who may line up anywhere on the field.

First-year coach Jody Harmon inherits a Mt. Blue team that might be ready for a revival after winning four games in its first Class B go-round.

WMC

Poland and Gray-New Gloucester have struggled to stay competitive in a league dominated by the likes of York and Greely, but both schools expect vast improvement this fall.

Tri-captains Paige Brousseau, Melora Lavoie and Amanda Gibson lead a delegation of eight returning starters for the Knights. Poland will switch to a more offensive-minded 5-3-2 alignment to take advantage of an athletic sophomore class.

Gray-NG has good balance in its lineup with three seniors, three juniors and three sophomores back in the fold. Seniors Emily Harlow, Meghan Lafontaine and Olivia Rottari (goalie) strengthen the defense, and coach Jen Laberge is high on the potential of two freshmen who will make an immediate splash.