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PLAYERS TO WATCH

• Nick Bachman, Falmouth, senior, midfield: Bachman, a four-year starter who had 27 goals and 12 assists last season, is making the move from attack.

• Josh Britten, Yarmouth, senior, long-stick midfield: Britten, who picked up 65 ground balls last year, is a versatile player capable of locking up the opponent’s top offensive player as well as contributing to the offense.

• Chris Burke, Waynflete, junior, attack/midfield: The well-rounded Burke scored a team-high 50 goals, had 20 assists and scooped up 70 ground balls last year.

• Chris Dolewa, Thornton Academy, senior, attack: The 6-foot-6 Dolewa is one of the state’s top faceoff men, winning more than 80 percent of his draws last season.

• Sean Finn, Kennebunk, senior, attack/midfield: One of the Rams’ top returning scorers from a year ago, Finn has recovered from a knee injury that kept him out of the Western Class A playoffs.

• Evan Jendrasko, Cheverus, senior, midfield: A four-year starter, Jendrasko scored 24 goals a year ago and is the Stags’ top faceoff man.

• Andrew Jones, Scarborough, junior, long-stick midfield: A tenacious defender, Jones scooped up 76 ground balls last season when he was named to the Southern Maine Activities Association’s second team.

• Harrison Keithly, South Portland, junior, attack: The Riots’ offensive MVP the last two years, Keithly had 50 goals and 27 assists, and scooped up 70 ground balls last spring.

• Caleb Kenney, Portland, senior, attack/midfield: An outstanding two-way performer, Kenney scored a state-high 63 goals and had 30 assists to lead the Bulldogs to their second consecutive appearance in the Class A state championship game.

• Hans Pope, Freeport, senior, midfield: Pope, who picked up a team-high 76 ground balls last season, handles most of the draws for the Falcons.

• Karl Rickett, Deering, junior, long-stick midfield: An outstanding take-away defender, Rickett scooped up a team-high 128 ground balls and won 74 percent of his faceoffs a year ago.

• Jack Roos, Cape Elizabeth, senior, goalkeeper: Back for his third season as a starter, Roos stopped 72 percent of the shots he faced and had a 3.8 goals-against average last season.

• Tim Takach, Cape Elizabeth, senior, attack/midfield: Extremely versatile, Takach had 25 goals and 14 assists last year, picked up 78 ground balls and won 67 percent of his faceoffs to help the Capers win their first state title in five years.

• John Wheeler, Scarborough, sophomore, attack: A crafty player, Wheeler scored a team-high 37 goals and had 27 assists to help the Red Storm capture their third Class A state championship in five years.

• Paul Witte, Greely, junior, attack: A third-year starter, Witte had 16 goals, a team-high 44 assists and scooped up 39 ground balls last season.

FIVE TEAMS TO WATCH

1. Cape Elizabeth: The Capers have enough experience and talent in their lineup to contend for a second consecutive Class B state championship.

2. Deering: A stingy defense and high-powered offense should put the Rams in contention in Western Class A.

3. Falmouth: The Yachtsmen are missing five starters from a year ago, but their experienced depth makes them contenders in Western Class B.

4. Portland: The Bulldogs have enough experience at both ends of the field and in the middle to remain in the running for a third consecutive trip to the Class A state championship game.

5. Scarborough: With six returning starters in the lineup and 16 seniors on the roster, the Red Storm have the experience and depth to contend for their second consecutive Class A state title.

— Paul Betit