Last year the Skaneateles girls lacrosse team's season ended on a sour note for the first time since 2004.

The Lakers won back-to-back Class C state championships in 2005 and 2006, but their bid for a three-peat fell short to Shoreham-Wading River.

Skaneateles may have lost All-Americans Stephanie Rice and Libby Johnson to graduation, but the Lakers bring back more than enough talent to make another run at the state title as nine seniors return.

Syracuse-bound Kelsey Nangle anchors the attack. The senior scored 50 goals last season and dished out 24 assists. Bucknell-bound Jenna Lotkowicktz, who will attend Bucknell next season, had 55 goals and 23 assists. Cornell-bound Shannon Tierney (47 goals, 33 assists) is another scoring threat. Newcomers Kat Pille and Allison Steckel will serve to strengthen the midfield.

Defensively, Brook McNeilly, Amy Reilhman, Margaret Shanley and Brittany LaVaute return to a swarming defense. Heather Mullen will be between the pipes.

To prepare for sectionals, Skaneateles has a tough non-league schedule that opens up at Section V powerhouse Brighton and includes Bethlehem, Fayetteville-Manlius and a spot in the West Genesee Lacrosse Tournament.

League-wise, the Lakers are the favorite. Skaneateles is battle-tested, and has won five straight Section III titles to prove it.

Auburn Maroons

After a couple of down years the Maroons have been steadily rising to the top for the past several seasons, and this year could be the year that Auburn really breaks through.

Though the Maroons lost standout Rosie Scheibel, Auburn still has an aggressive attack that can challenge any defense.

Auburn has already played two games this season, and the offense is showing much promise.

Notre Dame-bound Flannery Nangle has already scored eight goals, and Nicole Schattinger, Chelsea Smith and Taylor Baran have all found the net multiple times.

Brittney Baran has developed into a solid goalie for the Maroons, so defense should also be a strong point.

Auburn defeated Central Square in their opener but dropped a close decision to Henninger/Nottingham, 11-9. The Maroons have a tough league schedule that includes defending state champs West Genesee, but the Maroons should be in the top tier of Section III, Class A.

Jordan-Elbridge Eagles

The Eagles have been on a roller-coaster ride since the girls lacrosse team's inception several years ago.

After a rocky start, Jordan-Elbridge rose to be a contender in Section III, Class C. Last season the Eagles slipped a bit, finishing 4-10, but new coaches Ron Moore and Bill Schlegel hope to turn things around and use experience to get Jordan-Elbridge back into the playoffs.

The Eagles return a top-caliber attacker in Kate Austin, who will be joined by Megan Cook, Emily Dillon, Kate Dungey and Kayla Herne.

Juniors Aimee Briggs, Samantha Davis, Elizabeth Reed and Ashley Wheeler will anchor the defense, while goalkeepers Ashley Humphreys and Kelsey Richardson will mind the net.

The Eagles compete in Liberty Division II, a league that includes five-time defending Section III champion Skaneateles, but Jordan-Elbridge will battle Marcellus, Westhill and Cazenovia as well.