WASHINGTON SCHOOLGIRLS LACROSSE ASSOCIATION DIVISION I

The Team to Beat: Bainbridge Island

Although the Spartans graduated five first-team All-State players and one second-team All-State selection, they are still the most feared team in the state. Bainbridge Island graduated seven seniors and has five returning starters, but it also had six players make the Washington State Regional Team over the summer, more than any other school.

There is no question that Bainbridge Island will be good. But can the Spartans overcome their penchant for losing the big game? The Spartans have lost to Lakeside four straight years in the state championship game despite consistently being viewed by most as having the stronger program.

It will be up to junior middie Jaclyn Biggers, senior attack Delaney Larkin, sophomore middie Kelsey Mackin, junior middie Liana Olsen, senior defender Joanna Shea and senior attack Sydney Whitaker -- six players who made up almost 33 percent of the state’s regional team -- to conquer recent history and erase a half-decade of heartache for Bainbridge Island.

Contenders: Lakeside, Mercer Island, Roosevelt, Snohomish, Tacoma

Four-time defending state-champion Lakeside has distinguished itself as the most clutch program in the Western United States when it comes down to winning the big game. Since 2006, Lakeside has lost to rival Bainbridge Island in the regular season ever year. And in all four years, the Lions have returned the favor when it matters most - in the state final. This year’s team returns four starters and nine varsity players after graduating 10 seniors, and it has five players on its roster who played over the summer on the regional team.

Lakeside returns one first-team All-State player in senior defender Ellen Zocher, and senior attack Emmy Armintrout, senior middie Sylvia Warren, senior middie Sarah Pollnow and junior middie Emma Dorland all played for the prestigious regional team. The Lions will, however, have to replace a standout goalie, and finding a competent new netminder could make or break Lakeside’s 2010 title chances.

Mercer Island graduated five seniors and returns nine starters from its 2009 state semifinalist team, and this could be the year the Islanders finally have enough to make it to the championship game. The Islanders bring back one first-team All-State player in senior defender Olivia Wold and two second-team All-State selections in senior attack Hannah Bahn and senior middie Ellen Haas. Senior middie Talia Homchick is another talented player who participated with Haas on the summer regional team.

Roosevelt is coming off the best season in program history. The Roughriders went 11-3-2, advanced to the state semifinals and gave eventual champion Lakeside all it could handle before falling short. This year’s team looks to be strong as well, with first-team All-State senior middie Angie Anderson and second-team All-State junior defender Sarah Clevenger both coming back.

Snohomish graduated just five seniors and returns four of its top five scorers from last season’s state quarterfinalist team. The Panthers will be led by junior attack Meaghan Hess, one of the state’s most lethal finishers. Hess registered 91 points on 71 goals and 20 assists last season. She’ll be joined by sophomore middie Stephanie Lamphere, who had 40 points on 25 goals and 15 assists as a freshman, and by junior attack Kaya Reilly, who scored 29 goals.

Tacoma also has a lot coming back after graduating six seniors. The Tigers return seven starters and will get a huge boost with the return of standout senior defender Kate Donahue, who missed most of last season with a knee injury after making the second-team All-State list as a sophomore. Sophomore middie Sadie Treleven, senior middie Eline Cove and senior middie Elizabeth Craddock will also make big contributions.

Sleeper: Forest Ridge

After graduating one of the state’s top players, Forest Ridge isn’t mentioned among the state’s elite this season. But the Ravens have almost everyone else back, so they should have a solid team. Forest Ridge graduated just three seniors, and it has nine returning starters. Senior middie Haley Meier, senior goalie Burke Okrasinski, junior middie Chanel Farago and senior middie Taylor Durham will lead the team.

Top Players: Angie Anderson, MF, Roosevelt; Molly Anderson, Def., Lake Sammamish; Emmy Armintrout, Att., Lakeside; Hannah Bahn, Att., Mercer Island; Shelby Barkhouse, MF, Snohomish; Jacyln Biggers, Att., Bainbridge Island; Helen Chyz, Def., Nathan Hale; Allison Clements, Def., Lake Sammamish; Sarah Clevenger, Def., Roosevelt; Taylor Cone, MF, Seattle Prep; Eline Cove, MF, Tacoma; Elizabeth Craddock, MF, Tacoma; Katie Donahue, Def., Tacoma; Emma Dorland, MF, Lakeside; Taylor Durham, MF, Forest Ridge; Chanel Farago, MF, Forest Ridge; Ellen Haas, MF, Mercer Island; Meaghan Hess, Att., Snohomish; Talia Homchick, MF, Mercer Island; Amanda Johnson, Att., Curtis; Stephanie Lamphere, MF, Snohomish; Catherine LaPlant, Def., Mecer Island; Delaney Larkin, Att., Bainbridge Island; Millie Lindburg, Att., Nathan Hale; Kelsey Mackin, MF, Bainbridge Island; Haley Meier, MF, Forest Ridge; Merielle Moffatt, Att., Bellevue; Conley Nemyre, MF, Bellevue; Burke Okrasinski, G, Forest Ridge; Liana Olsen, MF, Bainbridge Island; Sarah Pollnow, MF, Lakeside; Kaya Reilly, Att., Snohomish; Haly Rylko, MF, Nathan Hale; Ali Savage, Att., Lake Sammamish; Mary Sessler, Att., Seattle Prep; Kelley Shanahan, Att., Seattle Prep; Joanna Shea, Def., Bainbridge Island; Sadie Treleven, MF, Tacoma; Monique Villanueva, MF, Holy Names Academy; Sylvia Warren, MF, Lakeside; Sydney Whitaker, Att., Bainbridge Island; Olivia Wold, Def., Mercer Island; Ellen Zocher, Def., Lakeside.

Preseason Top 10: 1. Bainbridge Island, 2. Lakeside, 3, Mercer Island, 4. Roosevelt, 5. Snohomish, 6. Tacoma, 7. Forest Ridge, 8. Bellevue, 9. Seattle Prep, 10. Lake Sammamish.

Notes: There will be 14 teams in Division I this season, down from 15 last year. The only change is that the Overlake School has been demoted to Division II after finishing in last place....Bellevue should be competitive again this season after graduating just six seniors. The Wolverines have eight starters coming back, including a returning first-team All-State selection in senior attack Merielle Moffatt....Seattle Prep graduated seven seniors, brings back half its starting lineup and will have a strong sophomore class. The question will be if it has enough experience to make the playoffs. Senior middie Taylor Cone, sophomore attack Mary Sessler and senior attack Kelley Shanahan will be the go-to players....Lake Sammamish graduated five seniors and brings back eight starters from its 2009 quarterfinalist team. Sophomore attack Ali Savage, senior defender Molly Anderson and sophomore defender Allison Clements leads a team that has a lot of balance....This will be a rebuilding year for Holy Names Academy, which suffered an upset loss in last year’s quarterfinals. Holy Names has a top player in senior middie Monique Villanueva, but it graduated nine seniors and brings back just three starters....Nathan Hale has six starters coming back from a team that struggled with numbers and depth last season. The Raiders graduated a strong senior class and will likely struggle in 2010, despite the best efforts of senior defender Helen Chyz, senior attack Emily Lindburg and junior middie Haly Rylko....Curtis will have a young team this season after it graduated seven seniors. The Vikings anticipate having six starters back, a group that will be led by senior attack Amanda Johnson.