1. Leesville Road HS (Raleigh, N.C.) - (26-0-1 in '99)
After graduating only two seniors from a state championship team last year - it defeated Mount Tabor, 3-2, in the finals - the folks in Raleigh should be excited for Leesville Road. This team outscored its opponents, 129-15, with two All-State performers leading the way. Andrew Tabor and his 34 goals returns, as does Grant Dickens (17 goals, 18 assists). On defense, J.R. Rodgers did an impressive job last year keeping the ball away from his goaltender. When it did reach Alan Dickerson, he almost always got the job done. He had 15 shutouts and allowed 0.44 goals per game in '99.

2. Lincoln-Way HS (New Lenox, Ill.) - (24-2-1)
A heartbreaking 2-1 loss in the state finals to United Township High bitterly ended Lincoln-Way's season in 1999. However, this is a new year and Lincoln-Way's team has changed little.

Ned Grabavoy, who scored 42 times and assisted on 12 other goals, returns as the team's dominant scorer. Steve Doster (16 goals, four assists) and Joe Ducci (13 goals, seven assists) will help take some of the offensive load off of Grabavoy. Two other players to watch on the scoring end are Greg Doster (two goals, nine assists) and Chase Kammerer (six goals, six assists).

3. St. Benedicts Prep (Newark, N.J.) - (20-0-1)
St. Benedicts Prep is riding a 69-game unbeaten streak and is the defending New Jersey state champ. But there are some pretty big shoes to fill on this roster. Cesar Cuellar, who scored 107 goals over the past two fall seasons, is now at the University of Connecticut. Coach Rick Jacobs will look to Flavio Pinto and sophomore Anthony Pezza to take over the role of "superstar" and to help lead the squad back to the state championship. We think they can do it.

4. St. Marks HS (Wilmington, Del.) - (20-0-0)
There's no reason why St. Marks shouldn't repeat as state champion. Coach Tom DeMatteis enters the season with a career record of 223-28-18 and nine state titles to his credit. He will lead a team that scored 118 goals a year ago. Seniors Adam Stuller, Adam Flanigan and Nolan Dzielak will be the reason why St. Marks remains supreme in the state of Delaware.

5. St. Thomas Aquinas HS (Overland Park, Kan.) - (17-2-2)
Coach Craig Ewing believes he can improve on his school's total of six state titles in the past eight years and 10 consecutive regional championships. With senior Chris Lee (12 goals in the team's final 10 games last fall), Brian Chastain and junior Paul Hanna back on the field, Ewing's excitement appears warranted.

"Chris Lee is as good as any player in the Midwest and is being heavily recruited by several good Division I schools," says Ewing. "? Brian Chastain has great touch and speed."

Another key will be the play of goalkeeper Steve Stampbach, who allowed only 0.87 goals per game last season.

6. Ballard HS (Louisville, Ky.) - (27-0-0)
Ballard, coming off a No. 1 national ranking in '99 - by the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) - graduated the Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year, Vijay Dias. But while he will be missed, coach Damon Bootes (448-57-23 career record), the 1999 NSCAA Coach of the Year, still has Brandon Godbolt and Kevin Singerman to work with. Tyler Wilcox will return in goal for the state champion.

7. Rockhurst HS (Kansas City, Mo.) - (27-1-1)
Rockhurst is always a tough team to play; it has lost just one game in the past two years. The back-to-back state champion returns midfielder Ryan Raybold, forward Brenden Matthews and midfielder Will John to its starting lineup. Coach Chris Lawson's group should be one of the best teams in the Midwest and already has earned the praise of a cross-state rival.

"In our area, Rockhurst will be a top team, coming off a second straight state championship," says St. Thomas Aquinas' Ewing.

8. Sandia HS (Albuquerque, N.M.) - (21-1-0)
Sandia's only loss last year came to the Cinderella team of Manzano High, 2-1, in the state finals. Coach Ron Allen's team graduated its goalie, Keith Krystofiak (0.61 goals allowed per game), and its leading scorer, Shane Clark (28 goals, 19 assists). Also graduated are Mike Keaton (nine goals, eight assists) and Jason Hackett (six goals, four assists). Now comes the good news.

Sandia should be fine, as it will center its offense around junior Ben Ashwill (23 goals, 11 assists), the team's second-leading scorer last fall. Other contributors should include senior Jason Flores (11 goals, seven assists), senior Cameron Clarke (four goals, three assists) and his younger brother, sophomore Michael Clarke (three goals, three assists).

9. Swansboro HS (Swansboro, N.C.) - (23-0-1)
The East Central Conference Player of the Year, Joe Ellington, is now at East Carolina University, but the 1A/2A state champ - it beat Charlotte Catholic, 4-0, in the title game - should be a force once again. Back is goaltender Jason Strange, who was part of a team that shut out 15 opponents last season. Also coming back for their senior seasons are Patrick Cutler and Nick Acosta. Strang, Cutler and Acosta were all selected to the North Carolina Junior/Senior High School Soccer Showcase, which was held in June.

10. United Township HS (East Moline, Ill.) - (24-0-1)
Dennis King (38 goals, 20 assists) graduated from United Township last spring, but don't count out the underdog state champion of a year ago. Senior forward Alejandro Cruz (19 goals, 21 assists) returns, along with senior forward Branden Berhenke (six goals, three assists) and B.J. Seward (three goals, six assists). If Berhenke and Seward can help pick up some of King's load from last year, United Township will be just fine.