Girls' soccer 2013: Players/Teams To Watch

PLAYERS TO WATCH-

Kayla Armstrong (Cedar Rapids Xavier) - Scored 34 goals last season and 34 the season before as a sophomore. Can she get 35? At least? Drake signee obviously one of the best players in the state, if not the best. -

Kaele Dickerman (Cedar Rapids Kennedy) - Scored 19 goals in 20 games to help the Cougars win the Class 3A state title. That earned her first-team all-state honors. Still just a junior, so the best yet to come. -

Katie Dierks (Cedar Rapids Jefferson) - Led Jefferson last season with seven goals and nine assists. Senior was first team all-Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division.

Emily Feltes (Cedar Rapids Kennedy) - Another stalwart junior for Kennedy. Had 19 goals and 10 assists in 18 games last season. -

Erin Gallagher (Dyersville Beckman) - Anyone who scores four goals in her first game of the 2013 season should be watched. -

Olivia Garcia (Linn-Mar) - Fantastic freshman campaign for Linn-Mar team that qualified for state tournament. Scored team-high 15 goals in 19 games. -

Malory Garman (Linn-Mar) - Made all-MVC divisional first team in 2012 as just a sophomore. -

Tory Harman (Cedar Rapids Kennedy) - Strong defender. Athlete of year in Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division. -

Allison McKinney (Solon)- Goal-scoring machine. Senior strike had a whopping 43 of them last season. Second-team all-stater in Class 1A. -

Anna Whetstone (Cedar Rapids Prairie) - A junior, she was named Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division goalkeeper of the year last season. -

Katie Wick (Iowa City Regina) - Helped Regals to state tournament in Class 1A with 19 goals and 17 assists. Just a junior. -

Kaitlyn Yanecek (Cedar Rapids Prairie) - Another first-team all-MVC selection.

TEAMS TO WATCH-

CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY - Defending Class 3A state champs lost their opener to Ankeny, who they upset in last year's finals, but this is still a strong team. Tory Harman, Kaela Dickerman and Emily Feltes form the nucleus. How they replace all-state goalie Allie Hutchinson will be key. -

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE- In their Class 2A substate final against Cedar Rapids Xavier last season, the Hawks started 10 underclassmen. Keeper Anna Whetstone was all-conference. Throw in other stalwarts such as Aminah and Meleah Baloch, Lizzy Fowler and Adelaide Bayne, and this is a good team. -

CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER - All the Saints have done is win seven consecutive state titles, most of any girls' team, regardless of sport. There's a new coach in former Saints all-stater Bailey Dorrington. Striker Kayla Armstrong is as good as it gets in the state.

CENTER POINT-URBANA- A perennial small-school power, the Stormin' Pointers made it to the state tournament last season and will be good again with the return of players such as all-stater Jessica Wooldridge. In fact, top four goal scorers are back: Wooldridge, Morgan Croell, Madeline Roseke and Jordan Plante. Ranked seventh preseason. -

IOWA CITY REGINA - Another state tourney entrant with lots of returning players. Regals are ranked sixth in 1A preseason.