ECC Division I

Bacon Academy

Coach: Lee Elliott (4th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Sarah Vilardo; Sr. Sophie Schroll; Jr. Morgan Prates; Sr. Victoria Violette.

Top newcomers: Fr. Emily Ferrigno; Fr. Cara Shea; Fr. Kayla Hall.

Outlook: Elliott says the players returned in great physical condition and calls the team's depth the best it has been in years, led by 10 seniors, including four four-year starters. "Even under the circumstances we find ourselves as a coaching staff truly believing that this year can be a very successful one," Elliott said.

East Lyme

Coach: Rachel Redding (16th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Karenna Kung, Sr. Caitlin O'Dea, Sr. Isabella Mazzi, Jr. Meredith Healy, Jr. Margaret Dunne, Jr. Ella Mazzuli, So. Abby Belleville, So. Ava Mauri, So. Sarina McCollum, So. Ava Pitruzzello, Jr. Caitlin White.

Top newcomers: Fr. Summer Antonino, Fr. Lily Antonino, Fr. Ava Lombardo, So. Alexandria Prevost, So. Emma Treptow, Fr. Riddhi Venkatesh, Jr. Sachi Vora, Jr. Grace Wadsworth.

Outlook: East Lyme, led by The Day's All-Area Player of the Year last season in then-senior sweeper Angie Venditti, did not allow a goal in the Class L state tournament en route to the final at Hartford's Dillon Stadium. East Lyme, vying for the first state title in program history, eventually fell to Guilford 2-1 in the championship game but the Vikings return a roster full of talent from that impressive run. Healy, Dunne and Kung earned Division I All-ECC honors as the Vikings captured the league title, and Healy was a Class L all-state pick, but Redding will have to replace a back line including graduated All-ECC selections Grace Wargo, Venditti and goalkeeper Avery Owen. "The girls are super-excited," Redding said of the upcoming season. "Whatever it is, we're going to make the best of it."

Fitch

Coach: Ryan Magee (1st season)

Key returnees: Jr. Katelyn Cervini; Jr. Madison Corbeil; Sr. Francesca Foster; Sr. Avery Lyon; Sr. Ashley Spreng; Sr. Kelsi Ursini; Sr. Carly Zingus.

Top newcomers: Sr. Isabella Massengale; Sr. Effie Petropoulos; Fr. Dre'Ana Singleton.

Outlook: Magee takes over the program after 10 years coaching in middle school. He says the Falcons aim to be competitive in a strong division. "We also have very strong senior leadership that continue to guide our team in the right direction," he said.

Ledyard

Coach: Emily Lehet (4th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Kate English; Sr. Abby Dirico; So. Delaney Vaudrey; So. Jessica English.

Top newcomers: So. Bella Drummond; Fr. Maddie McLeod.

Outlook: Ledyard lost 10 seniors to graduation. Lehet is calling this "a rebuilding year" but also said, "We are always looking to be competitors and hope to have a solid performance this fall."

NFA

Coach: Taylor Shannon (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Jillian Brunelli; Sr. Hannah Vega; Sr. Kayla Park; Sr. Cassidy White; Sr. Teagan White; Jr. Hannah Daniewicz; Jr. Emily Eggler; Jr. Kaleigh Andrew; Jr. Caitlin Daley; Fr. Alyssa Newson.

Top newcomers: Jr. Avery Larkin; Jr. Gillian Prior; So. Alexis Boyer; So. Nikki Schulze; Fr. Brooke Bolles; Fr. Alexandra Tabilas; Fr. Emily Tucker; Fr. Elizabeth Turner.

Outlook: Shannon said that while the Wildcats have lost key players to graduation, injury and other reasons, there's still plenty of optimism. "We have a positive outlook," she said. "Several newcomers will contribute to us being tough competitors."

New London

Coach: Kristina Ciotto (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Emilia Skrabacz; Jr. Cassandra Roman; Jr. Emily Fielding.

Top newcomer: Fr. Alina Skrabacz.

Outlook: New London returns nine starters (seven juniors) who may be ready to cash in on the growing pains of past years. "We are looking forward to testing ourselves and to see how far we've come in the last three seasons," Ciotto said.

Stonington

Coach: Jennifer Solomon (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Vanessa Benjamin; Sr. Amelia Caron; Sr. Maggie Constantine; Sr. Megan Detwiler; Sr. Tori LoPresto; Sr. Rachel Sabbadini; Jr. Corinne Steeno; So. Carly Constantine; So. Carleigh O'Keefe.

Top newcomers: Sr. Maysa Gray; Sr. Hailee Lagenbach; Sr. Bailey McCarney; Jr. Ivy Goodman.

Outlook: Solomon likes her core of experienced players, which should help accomplish one of the goals this season. "We are looking to use 2020 to rebound from the 2019 season where we experienced several close losses," Solomon said.

Waterford

Coach: Chris Ghiglia (7th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Olivia Davidson; Sr. Jackie Puccio; Sr. Kendra Gregg; Sr. Lillie Abromowicz; Sr. Mya Rheaume; Jr. Lily Marelli; Jr. Aimee Girard; Jr. Emily Gates; Jr. Nicole Li; Jr. Mckenzie Gregory; So. Marin Mahoney; So. Bryn Dickinson.

Top newcomers: Jr. Emma Marelli; Jr. Maddie Myers; So. Emma DeVito; So. Ella Bousquet; So. Amelia Allen; So. Jordyn Metevier; Fr. Emilia Podeszwa; Fr. Amarys Jimenez.

Outlook: Ghiglia mentioned defense (Puccio and Davidson) and goalkeeping (Gregory and Rheaume) among the team's strengths. He also said he has creative midfielders and forwards. "Our overall fitness level is high, so we should become a stronger second-half team," Ghiglia said. "We need to defend set pieces better than we did last season."

ECC Division II

Grasso Tech

Coach: Beth Wallace (2nd season)

Key returnees: F Katherine Chacon; D Alana DaSilva; D Lexi Read.

Top newcomers: M Natalie Smith; D Cynthia Holland.

Outlook: The Eagles, who will step away from the Connecticut Technical Conference this season to play a regionalized schedule in the ECC, lost five seniors from last season. But Wallace likes the potential impacts of Smith and Holland, both of whom are underclassmen.

Griswold

Coach: Christopher Ladd (2nd year)

Key returnees: Sr. Bellamae Rubino; Sr. Morgan Casey; Jr. Lilliana Morano.

Top newcomers: Fr. Natalie Becotte; Fr. Ruby Logan.

Outlook: Ladd enters his second season with high expectations for the Wolverines. "This year is going to be a strong year for Griswold soccer," Ladd said. "The team has a strong upperclassman body that will lead our large group of talented, incoming freshmen towards success. The team has already shown a great mindset as well as work ethic in the few weeks that we have seen them, and I only expect to be impressed further as the season continues."

Lyman Memorial

Coach: Mark Morello (32nd season)

Key returnees: Jr. Morgan Tartaglia, Sr. Kate Anderson, Sr. Madilyn Crawford, Jr. Rayne Bobbi, Jr. Olivia Dunnack, Jr. Kasey Cook, Jr., So. Magda Carpenter, So. Leah Comeroski, So. Kendall Breault.

Top newcomers: Jr. Brianna Bunnell, Fr. Maddie Archer, Fr. Alyssa Judd, Fr. Kelsey Dunnack.

Outlook: The Bulldogs have been one of the ECC's most consistent winning programs under Morello, but this year could be a challenge. Lyman returns some experience, but has three sophomores and 10 freshmen among its 20-player roster. "It's been a slow process with the practice guidelines set in place," Morello said, "but the girls are working hard and are enthusiastic to have a season. If we can find the right defensive combination and a rotation off the bench, we will be competitive in our bubble."

Montville

Coach: April Parady-Walter (8th season)

Key returnees: Sr. McKinley Bond; Sr. Ellie Bowman; Sr. Aida Flores; Sr. Madison Gressly; Sr. Kiera MacCracken; Sr. Alexis Meehan; Sr. Jillian Murallo; Jr. Julia Beaupre; Jr. Kelsey Chiasson; Jr. Madelyn Koning; Jr. Madisen Price; So. Kate Bowman; So. Addie Concascia; So. Lily Tomczik.

Top newcomers: Sr. Madelyn Hatchett; Fr. Sydney Cook; Fr. Sage Gressly.

Outlook: There are nine seniors and seven returning starters in total, leaving some high hopes for the Indians this season. "There are multiple girls on the team that offer strengths in many different positions, so our lineup offers flexibility and versatility," Parady-Walter said.

Norwich Tech

Coach: Carrie Feldman (3rd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Jessie Adams, Jr. Lily Armstrong, Jr. Arelis Caballero, Jr. Shelby Casas, Jr. Ella Chan, Jr. Megan Dittrich, Jr. Georgia Fowler, Jr. Sonnie Nixon, Jr. Amaya Santiago, So. Alicia Burroughs, So. Janelle Lambert.

Top newcomers: Sr. Erica Palmer, Fr. Madison Howes, Fr. Amaris Moreno.

Outlook: The Warriors take a break from the Connecticut Technical Conference the fall to play a regionalized schedule in Division II of the ECC. Feldman said Norwich Tech is "excited to face off against new teams," adding, "We see it as a year to grow and increase the caliber of or playing." Holy Family, which has co-opted with the Warriors in recent years, will not allow its athletes to participate this fall due to the pandemic.

St. Bernard

Coach: Shane Clarke (15th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Lindsay Clement; Sr. Sophia Videll; Sr. Olivia Massad; Sr. Def, Aaliya Masters; Sr. Erin Londregan; Jr. Elizabeth Hannaford; Jr. Halie Jennings; Jr. Lindsey Reilly; Jr. Emma Lemire; Jr. Isabella Pero; Jr. Gracyn Barnhill; Jr. Emily Hernandez; So. Chloe Jennings; So. Gwyneth Howes; So. Adeline Arvidsen.

Top newcomers: Fr. Sienna Sferazza; Fr. Angelica Tompkins; Fr. Merzako Kambolli; Fr. Caitlyn Kuhn.

Outlook: Bright. Clark has seven starters back from last season and said he "expects several of our young players to make a significant impact" this season. Clarke believes the Saints will be "very competitive" within their division.

Wheeler

Coach: Kellie Palmer (2nd year)

Key returnees: G Addie Hauptmann; M-F Madison Perkins; F Kaitlin Melinosky; D Leah Pion; D Jess Johnson; M Marissa Perkins; D Kylie Groves; D Peach Schroeder; F Brooke Dowrey.

Top newcomers: M-F Kaitlin Pierce; D Naomi Board.

Outlook: Palmer is looking forward to seeing how the young players in the program impact the season. There is some experience, too. "We expect to be competitive this year with a young, athletic team," Palmer said.

Others

Old Lyme

Coach: Paul Gleason (9th season)

Key returnees: Sr. Emily DeRoehn; Sr. Sam Gray; Sr. Ellie Zrenda; Sr. Grace Lathrop; Sr. Lauren Wallace; Sr. Mackenzie Machnik.

Top newcomers: So. Alexis Fenton; So. Lyla Powers; So. Maddie McCulloch; Fr. Luisa Raby.

Outlook: DeRoehn made the list of Top 25 Players to Watch by GameTime CT. Gray also returns as a two-year starter in goal. Gleason said his team's strength will be on defense with several starters returning.

Williams

Coach: Stephanie Chapman (2nd season)

Key returnees: Sr. Ellie Fader, Sr. Olivia Kaplan, Sr. Lily Sabetta, Sr. Elizabeth Merryweather, Jr. Sarah Cole, Jr. Olivia Guinan.

Top newcomers: Fr. Skylar Frost, Fr. Lucy Fader, Fr. Katelyn Harvey, Fr. Zaela Crespo, Fr. Scarlett Kane.

Outlook: The Blues return an experienced group led by seniors Ellie Fader, Kaplan, Sabetta and Merryweather. Chapman said Williams is practicing two days a week in an intramural format while the school evaluates the COVID-19 situation before determining whether the Blues will be able to play a limited schedule later in the season.