Ella Anania, Noble junior, midfield: The returning first-team SMAA pick is a gritty two-way player who gives the Knights a strong defensive presence in the middle of the field. She’s an excellent one-on-one defender, a physically strong player and the owner of a hard hit that can spark the transition game.

Abigail Armlin, York senior, midfield: The first-team all-Western Maine Conference pick last season has a versatile game that she has shown by playing both midfield and defense. She plays for Seacoast United and has verbally committed to play at the University of New Hampshire.

Jenna Baxter, Noble junior, midfield: According to Coach Josie Chadbourne, Baxter has started receiving interest from Division I colleges. She’ll bring a natural forward skill set to the midfield and be an attacking player for a Knights team looking to make another leap forward.

Hannah Bickford, Gorham junior, midfield: After making first-team all-SMAA last season, Bickford returns as the central piece of a Rams team that should be a Class A contender. She has seven career goals and 11 career assists, and brings a unique vision and feel to the center midfield position.

Macy Bush, Falmouth junior, midfield/defense: Versatility will be one of Falmouth’s strengths this year, and it might be best defined by this returning second-team all-SMAA pick. Bush can help lead the Navigators’ attack, or get back and be one of their best at playing the ball on defense.

Piper Cohen, Mt. Ararat senior, goalie: An Eagles team that graduated its entire starting back line will get a boost with the return of Cohen, who thrived in net while Mt. Ararat recorded six shutouts during the regular season, including its last three games. She was first-team all-conference in the KVAC last season.

Molly-Kate Dempsey, Wells senior, forward: With 28 career goals and 29 career assists, Dempsey has proven herself to be a dynamic offensive player, with a skill set honed by year-round play. She was a first-team all-Western Maine Conference selection and will be one of Class B South’s top threats again.

Abby Dickson, York senior, forward: Dickson was one of the top scorers for a team that went 14-0 in the regular season last year, and she was first-team all-conference in the Western Maine Conference. The Wildcats graduated 10 players, so they’ll look for Dickson to keep providing her scoring punch.

Grace Gray, Cape Elizabeth senior, forward: The first-team all-Western Maine Conference selection is back to lead a Capers team that has visions of getting back to the Class B South final. Gray helped them get there last year, scoring three goals in a regional semifinal victory over Yarmouth.

Hannah Heanssler, Windham senior, forward: The second-team all-SMAA pick last year will be the top scoring threat for an Eagles team that has playoff aspirations in Class A South. She’s a competitive player and a strong leader, and she was the central figure last fall for one of the top offensive teams in program history.

Belle Hemond, Mt. Ararat senior, defender: A first-team all-conference pick in the KVAC last season, Hemond will move into the defensive end to lead the back play for the Eagles. She has verbally committed to play for Division II Assumption University.

Khianna Jackson, Biddeford senior, midfield: The returning first-team all-SMAA player is one of the state’s best seniors. She has a hard, accurate shot and terrific touch on long passes, as evidenced by her school-record 22 assists last season. “Kiki” plans to play at Assumption University next year.

Lily Johnson, Cheverus junior, midfield: One of the key returning pieces for the defending Class A champions, Johnson totaled 12 goals and 13 assists as a sophomore and emerged as one of the state’s most versatile players. She tallied a goal and an assist in the 4-1 state final victory over Skowhegan. She was an NFHCA all-region pick last season.

Lucy Johnson, Cheverus sophomore, forward: As a freshman last year, Lily Johnson’s sister showcased one of the state’s best finishing touches. She scored 28 goals and had nine assists, and will again be a key cog in the Stags’ explosive offense. She was also an NFHCA all-region selection last fall.

Emily Keefe, South Portland/Westbrook junior, goalie: Keefe has good positional awareness, an ability to read the play in front of her and a knack for communicating with her defense – all of which has helped the all-SMAA pick become one of the top goaltenders in the conference.

Cece Keller, Biddeford senior, forward: One of the best pure scorers in the SMAA, Keller set a school record with 30 goals last season. She has excellent stick skills and coordination with the ball on the attack, and is adept at redirecting hard shots in toward the cage on corners.

Charlize Kelly, Falmouth senior, forward: An honorable mention in the SMAA all-conference last year, Kelly could be poised for a bigger offensive season for the Navigators this year. She brings plenty of varsity experience to the position and, according to Coach Robin Haley, impressed in the preseason.

Kaitlyn McIntyre, Cape Elizabeth senior, forward: The Capers will have one of the WMC’s deepest front lines with the return of this dangerous scorer. McIntyre is dangerous on crossing passes to set her teammates up, and she’s capable of keeping the ball on her own stick and knocking it in herself.

Audrey Payeur, Sanford sophomore, midfield: Payeur was a first-team all-SMAA selection as a freshman, and it’s easy to see why. She controls the ball well in the circle, possesses an accurate shot and is an exceptional athlete who plays the sport year-round.

Erika Parker, Marshwood junior, center midfield: The first-team all-SMAA pick has good field awareness and an ability to score, but she’s at her best setting up her teammates for their own opportunities for goals. She’s “everything you could want in a player,” Coach Kristen Amato said.

Zoey Pennell, Thornton Academy senior, defender: An all-SMAA pick each season, Pennell has thrived at both midfield and defense for the Golden Trojans. She was an NFHCA all-region player last year, and she has strong skills with the ball to go with her defensive ability.

Daisy Stone, Scarborough senior, forward: At nearly 6 feet tall, Stone doesn’t fit the typical forward mold, but Coach Kerry Mariello said she knows how to use her height while also being fast, shifty and in possession of fluid offensive skills. “She’s dynamic to watch,” Mariello added.

Eliza Thorne, Fryeburg Academy senior, forward: After being named first-team all-conference in the WMC and leading the team in scoring the two years before that, Thorne returns as the top threat on a Raiders team that was a top-four seed in Class B South last season.

Faith Tillotson, Thornton Academy senior, forward: Tillotson, a second-team all-SMAA selection, is likely to be the Golden Trojans’ top scoring threat this season. A former gymnast, she’s one of Class A South’s best athletes and she has a rare mix of strength and speed.

Taylor Tory, Cheverus senior, forward: There are few, if any, players who are better at putting the ball in the cage. Tory had 35 goals and was the top scorer for the state champions, and will be a difficult player to keep off the score sheet again.