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Maybe the second-best girls' soccer team in the greater Attleboro area is the "second" team representing the Bishop Feehan High Shamrocks.

With the wondrous athletic skills of Jenna Roncarati patrolling midfield, with striker Siobhan Devoy speeding past defenders and plenty of depth on defense, the Shamrocks will have no trouble winning the Eastern Athletic Conference title.

It's what happens in the postseason that matters.

The Shamrocks, winners of 18 matches last season and the Falcons of Dighton-Rehoboth, winners of 20 matches in 2008, both bowed out in the semifinal round of the MIAA Tournament.

Feehan and D-R maintain their standards for excellence, raising the level of competitive play. In the Hockomock League, defending MIAA and league champion Oliver Ames is the team to beat. North Attleboro lost 17 seniors to graduation, King Philip lost 10 seniors and Franklin lost 17 seniors.

"I think that we'll be in good shape, but can we compete with OA?" asked Mansfield High coach Kevin Smith, whose Hornets - with 13 veterans back - plan on making a push for the title and the postseason.

Bishop Feehan Shamrocks

Coach Paul Pontes put a mandate out to his Shamrocks - play defense. "That's where our emphasis is on, we gave up 27 goals last year," said the Bishop Feehan boss, whose club lost 3-1 to Weymouth in the semifinals of postseason play.

The Shamrocks notched nine shutouts last season and earned the No. 2 seed for the MIAA Tournament, but better marking skills and closing down space in front of goalies, Jen Warren, a senior, and Justine Miller, a freshman, will be the calling card.

The Shamrocks have a clever central defender in Jordan Logue, a solid outside left back in senior Spencer Driscoll and two key other veterans in the flatback system, senior Kathryn Wold, who played at outside midfield last year and junior Jennifer Samson. Seniors Hannah Cote and Erin Hines along with junior Elaine Martin are also in the mix.

The Shamrocks' most dominating player is the Providence College-bound Roncarati, who also scored 14 goals and totaled a club-best 22 assists. "She's something else," said Pontes of her influence, both on and off the field.

Senior captain Elizabeth Farrell will also work along Roncarati inside while the outside backs will be senior veterans Jamie Coyne and Meg Zerba. Seniors Kara Fitzgerald and Michelle Flannery along with junior Marissa Boulerice will also be in the mix.

Up top, Devoy (15 goals, seven assists) played in the shadow of career-best point (137) producer Jen Leaverton, who netted 95 career goals. With sophomore Jessica Miller, the Shamrocks are very dangerous in the attacking zone. Junior Erin Casey and freshman Annemarie Galvin will also create their share of scoring chances.

The Shamrocks beat Norwood, Hopedale and Franklin in scrimmages, scoring seven goals. To strengthen the schedule, Pontes has matches with Needham, Notre Dame and Dighton-Rehoboth. "I have some versatility, now we have to get things done." Foxboro Warriors

The Warriors want to win - period. "They're all very competitive, they want to win," proclaimed Foxboro coach Caitlin Annicelli. The Warriors are getting there, having won five matches and tied three others last season. From that cast returns playmaking junior midfielder Carley Martyniak, a three-year starter.

Junior Kristen Hoffman also will be at central midfield, while juniors Rebecca Crowley and Ariel Solomon will be on the outside.

Caitlin Brolin, a junior, will open in goal. Senior captain Cayleigh Lincoln, a three-year starter, is the standout defender. The Roma sisters should be very influential with junior Livia Roma as stopper and sophomore Gianna Roma at sweeper.

"Right now, we need to work on our team defense," added Annicelli, whose Warriors will have seniors Avery Fleck and Rachel Jamieson and sophomore Kayla Briggs as the target points up top.

King Philip Warriors

Just having qualified for the MIAA Tournament as the Warriors did last season (a first-round loss to Needham) is merely not enough. The Warriors want to challenge for the Hockomock League title again and be considered among the premier sides.

"Once we get our lineup set we'll be fine, we have some talented athletes," said KP coach Greg Massotti, who lost 10 seniors to graduation. Don't let the inexperience fool you. The Warriors have a superb senior sweeper in captain Meg Marra, a dominating midfielder in junior Sarah Shipley and a potentially strong striker in freshman midfielder Meghan Rico.

Junior Alex Ceven returns in goal for the Warriors. Senior captain Kelly Vesey and juniors Danielle Lavangie and Kelsey Rieger form the cocoon in front of Ceven.

Juniors Rylee Dakiewicz and Nicole Palmer will be regulars at midfield, while up top on the front line will be senior captain Caitlin Burgess and sophomore Jen Turner. "We're inexperienced, but we're playing well right now," said Massotti. KP will play six home matches at Macktaz Field and four home matches at the Centennial School field.

Mansfield Hornets

The Hornets are in an enviable position, if only for the fact they enjoy the presence of four-year starter and All-Hockomock League performer Ali Nagle and three-year starter in goal Jacki MacPherson.

Nagle is a splendidly talented sweeper and captain, while MacPherson (six shutouts last year) contributed to Mansfield allowing the second-fewest goals (17) ever in a single season. "Our skills are good and we have some team speed," said Mansfield mentor Kevin Smith.

The Hornets went 6-6-6 last season and other than defending champ OA, might be the best of the rest in the Hockomock League. A third factor is senior striker Meghan Ferreira, the three-year starter and Hornet track star, who is indefensible one-on-one.

"We have six starters back, some 13 veterans, but we'll be starting four sophomores," added Smith. Three of the sophs are at midfield, Kelsey Alexander, Katie Dempsey and Emily Broyles. Also at midfield is senior Kelly McCabe.

Joining Nagle on the backline will be sophomore stopper Erin Bruno, senior captain and three-year starter at outside back Amanda Cunningham and junior Ali Dorval.

North Attleboro Rocketeers

The Rocketeers, having graduated 17 seniors, will have a totally revamped roster. "This year is about how the sophomores perform," said North coach Geoff Burgess, who had a cast of 49 players sign up for the program, 19 of which are freshmen.

The key seniors are central defenders, Kellie Shorens and Shannon Morse. They are packaged on the backline with junior Jillian Haney and sophomore Alex Rousseau on the outside, the quartet in front of sophomore goalie Kelsey Viens.

The most talented of the Rocketeer newcomers is sophomore midfielder Ashley Chretien, a playmaker. Up top, the Rocketeers have a potential prolific finisher in sophomore Brini Varetimos.

Juniors Brianne Dusel and Cassandra Raposa along with sophomore Emma O'Neil are also in the cast of midfielders. "If they click, we'll have a nice midfield," added Burgess. "We have a lot of spots open, so the new kids will have to step in."

Norton Lancers

Todd Kefor begins his first full season as the Lancers' head coach and he was overwhelmed - with 40 candidates for the team. "The freshmen are revamping the way that we play," said Kefor, who prefers to put pressure on foes with an attacking nature instead of holding steady on defense and waiting for scoring chances.

"We have excellent speed and I think that some of the freshmen will have an immediate impact," said Kefor. One of them is striker Megan Elliott, a quick and skilled front liner. Also up front will junior Nicolette Schuko.

Senior Casey Remick returns in goal while sophomore Jillian Wry anchors the defensive cast at sweeper. Seniors Samantha Varney and Laura Johansmeyer along with freshman Brianna Betts also will be defensive regulars.

The midfield cast is young, at present sophomore Brianna Vileri and freshman Paige Almeida being the key transitional players.

Dighton-Rehoboth Falcons

The Falcons are always the flagship for excellence, not just in the South Coast Conference, but among the very best in southeastern Massachusetts. The defending South Coast Conference champions went 20-2 last year, posted 11 shutouts, limited nine other foes to one goal and lost (1-0) to Dedham in the semifinal round of the MIAA Division 1-South Tournament.

So what's coach Jeff White and the Falcons have in store for 2008? Well, how about adjusting to life without a Kelsey Mahoney (40 goals, 19 assists), after adjusting last year to life without Tiffany Pacheco. "We have a good supporting staff, we have some people who can put the ball in the net," wryly stated White.

The Falcons have a stellar defense, first and foremost. In goal is senior captain Chelsea Gay. The stopper is senior Amanda Hill. The sweeper is senior captain Jen Braga. Senior Emily Martin and sophomore Alysa DaSilva are the outside backs.

The midfield is solid with three-year starter Meg DeCastro (11 goals, 11 assists) last year and junior Sam Sylvia. Junior Teal Gildea is on the outside right and sophomore Sara Harris is on the outside left.

Up top will be senior captain Kathleen Smith and freshman Suzie Newman - the sister of former Falcon star Christina Newman - who has a flair for finding the goal.

Seekonk Warriors

No information was provided.

Attleboro Bombardiers

The Bombardiers have a new boss in former AHS boys' assistant coach Steve Rodrigues. "I demand a lot more, I expect a lot more," said Rodrigues, who hopes to inject some new spirit and better chemistry into the Bombardier program.

The Bombardiers have a bonafide scorer in senior striker Jenna Costa, perhaps AHS' best technical player. Also up top will be speedy junior Sara Jennings and senior captain Caitlin Eno. The midfield has seniors Caroline Wompler, Amanda Weckessfer and Meghan Hathaway along with sophomore Margo Clifford.

The Bombardiers have a veteran backline anchored by senior sweeper and captain Ali Kelley and senior stopper and captain Kelci Keene. Senior Brittany Reynolds will open at left back and junior Patti Martin will be stationed at outside right.

"Our midfield is strong, we do have a lot of good players," said Rodrigues. However, he would like to see the Bombardiers playing more with the ball at their field, having possession of the ball.

Tri-County Cougars

The Cougars are putting their best feet forward. What with a dozen freshmen in the program, coach Sara Derochers is excited about the future of the Tri-County program. The Cougars won just three matches last season, but were competitive in most.

The Cougars possess a clever playmaker and score in junior Erica Jonasson of North Attleboro, Tri-County's leading scorer in each of the past two seasons (19 goals last year).

Senior Amanda Barr, a sweeper, is starting in goal until a viable candidate can be found. Three-year starter Meghan McMorrow, a junior, junior Amanda Cobb and freshman Samantha Neerbott, a stopper, should form a competent back line.

At midfield, junior Julie Chesmore, a transfer from Medway, has good ball skills. Senior veteran Anne Bayer and and senior Haney Hoch, perhaps, the most improved Cougar, will be the key transitional players. "We'll be pretty competitive," said Derochers, whose Cougars may not challenge Bristol-Plymouth in the Mayflower League, but should be contesting for a post-season berth.