Iowa girls prep soccer 2015: Teams, players to watch

TEAMS

Linn-Mar — Lions were 18-0 before regional final loss to eventual champion Kennedy. Return four all-state players including top forwards and goalkeeper. This is a team with a mission and a lot of talent.

C.R. Kennedy — Hard to top last year's state title after suffering six regular-season losses, but even with heavy graduation losses Cougars have talent aplenty. Goalie Olivia Weigel and defenders Carly Langhurst and Abby Hellweg are back. Replacing the top of the attack and some veteran senior leadership will be the challenges.

Iowa City West — Lost MF stalwarts Alli Peterson and Anna Hausler (both all-staters) and GK Beth Crowe, among others, but West played a lot of underclassmen last year and still made it to state. The club system and stable, superior coaching will keep the Women of Troy in the fight for a conference title most every year.

C.R. Xavier — Saints (11-8 in 2014) break in a new coach but have plenty of experience left from last year's run to the 2A state semifinals where they lost in a shootout to eventual champion North Scott. Only two seniors started a year ago. Lizzie Bailey and Katie Ives were key components and both are back.

Iowa City Regina — Seven starters return from a 1A state-tournament semifinalist. The Regals (15-5 in 2014) have a new coach, Stephanie Rauckhorst, a former college player and club coach. Among the returnees are all-stater Lauren Ronnfeldt, the team's second-leading scorer (22 goals, 15 assists) and Kennedy Brown, an honorable mention all-stater. Goalie Hannah Stein is back. Also back after ACL surgery is forward Jenny Wick. The Regals must replace back-line leadership of Grace Larew.

Waverly-Shell Rock — The Go-Hawks were 20-3 and finished as 2A state runners-up a year ago. Look for more of the same as they return nine starters and a number of other letterwinners and a big group of freshmen. Leading scorer Morgan Neuendorf is gone but all-stater Haley Grawe scored 20 goals and had 14 assists so the attack should be in good hands.

Dubuque Hempstead — Mustangs (18-3) finished state runner-up a year ago and lost just four senior starters. They return first-team all-state forward Alesha Duccini, who scored two goals in the state title game, honorable mention all-state keeper Kaylee Coble and midfielder Abby Harbin.

PLAYERS

Olivia Garcia, Jensen Sevening, Rylie Frese and Claire Larson, Sr., Linn-Mar — All returning all-state selections. Garcia and Sevening will lead the attack while Frese minds the net and Larson is in the back line.

Morgan Petsche, Jr., Kennedy — Terrific, mobile athlete who was hindered by injuries last year. If she's healthy she's as dangerous in the midfield as anyone in the state. Scored eight goals with nine assists.

Regan Steigleder and Emma Cooper, So., Iowa City West — second team all-state selections last year as freshmen. Talented, mobile and versatile mids. Combined for 27 goals and 10 assists.

Josie Durr, Solon, So.— The Spartans will be a threat to return to state thanks to the talented all-state forward, who led the Spartans' attack with 23 goals and three assists.

— Susan Harman