Can anyone stop the Scots' soccer express?

The following is a look at the league, in alphabetical order. Preseason records are in parentheses.

Aragon (1-1-1)

After a down year, by Aragon standards, the Dons are ready to make another run to the top of the standings, but it will all be dependent on the team's six freshmen rounding into form.

"A lot's going to depend on our upperclassmen and how they can bring these young girls along," said Aragon coach Mike Flynn. "We're going to be young all the way around. We're going to have to have a very quick learning curve."

While Flynn may have six new players seeing significant playing time, the key to the Dons' success will be the play of their returning players. Junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Revel hopes to reverse a sophomore slump and return as one of the league's elite.

"She came off a really good club season," Flynn said. "She's really focused."

Moving from forward to a midfield position is Kaitlyn's twin sister Kayla. Flynn expects Kayla to move forward on occasion but will use her as a holding midfielder most often.

Caroline Park, a senior, assumes the attacking midfielder duties. Brought up for the playoffs her freshman year, Park is a three-year varsity player and a team captain this season.

Flynn is also expecting big things from a couple of freshmen -- left fullback Abby Kirkup and midfielder Laura Shields.

Flynn said the team will need contributions from several sources this year, unlike the last couple of seasons in which one or two players carried a bulk of the offensive load.

"We don't necessarily have a go-to player," Flynn said. "I think we're going to be stingy with goals. The one question is, can we put the ball in the back of the net?"

Burlingame (4-1-2)

The Panthers steadily climbed the standings over the past few seasons, culminating in their best season ever under coach Philip DeRosa last season with a second-place finish.

DeRosa won't say first place is in the cards this season, however.

"The plan is to improve the quality of play every year," DeRosa said.

A strong middle of the field should help Burlingame in that quest. Sophomore goalkeeper Marie Torres was the starter last season and had a strong year. Sweeper Sibel Slavasky is the team captain and a coach on the field.

"All instructions off the bench go to her and she delegates out there," DeRosa said. "She's really a team leader."

The midfield of juniors Katie Morales and Siobhan Brosnan give the Panthers a solid middle from which to build their offense. Morales is more of a playmaker while Brosnan is a tough one who can defend as well as attack.

The forwards are a little young, with sophomore Danielle Bakhtiari and freshman Jenny Haggarty running up top. DeRosa has the luxury of bringing a top-notch goal scorer off the bench in Mollyrose McBride, who is finally rounding into shape after some medical problems in the summer of 2004.

"I gave them a tough schedule in the beginning to get them ready (for league play)," DeRosa said. "The kids are battle ready. Now, it's whether they can continue to work together."

Carlmont (3-1)

The Scots have had an incredible run over the last several years. They've won every Bay Division game the last two years and haven't lost since a 2-1 defeat to Aragon during the 2001-02 season, won six-straight Bay Division titles and captured their first Central Coast Section title last season.

Coach Jim Kelly doesn't put any emphasis on the streak, however.

"I don't talk about it in terms of wins and losses. I never talk about winning and losing, (only) about doing everything ... you could possibly do," Kelly said.

It also helps to have one of the most lethal offenses in CCS. The Scots lost the CCS Player of the Year in Andrea Carrera, but simply reload. Returning is four-year senior forward Mara Fintzi, who is being looked at by Santa Clara University.

Joining her will be junior forward Theresa Cornwell, who leads the team in goals scored in the preseason, as well as sophomore Kelly Cunningham, who joined the team in their playoff run last year and made an immediate impact.

Senior sweeper Sammy Kirburg, another four-year starter, is probably Carlmont's most versatile player.

"She could probably play wherever we put her," Kelly said.

The Scots' biggest question comes at goalkeeper, where freshman Danielle Boross and junior Taylor Gambucci both are expected to get playing time.

"They're both pretty raw," Kelly said. "As far as sheer athletic ability, Dani is probably the stronger goalkeeper. It's a huge step up for her. She's going to be a great goalkeeper, I don't have any doubt about that.

"Taylor is more experienced as a junior, but is brand new on varsity."

Menlo-Atherton (1-1)

Expect a track meet -- literally -- when the Bears play.

Junior Kaitlin McGhee and sophomores Kim O'Donnell and Madeline Wheeler were three-quarters of the Menlo-Atherton 4x100 relay team that qualified for the state track meet last season. Don't let their speed fool you, however.

"They're actually soccer players," said M-A coach Jenna Carson.

The Bears are built on speed, speed and more speed.

"My whole team is really fast," Carson said. "Which is fun because we play so many games on turf. We play a very fast-paced transition game. Our goal is to score a lot of goals. Our offense is stronger than our defense. The defense is still rebuilding and I'm searching for who my defense is."

As an example, Carson still has to decide between three goalkeepers. She has been splitting playing time in the preseason and even has a freshman goalkeeper at the frosh-soph level who can still work into the mix.

Menlo School (3-1)

With seven returning starters, Menlo coach Donoson Fitzgerald hopes to improve on last season's fifth-place finish.

"My goal is for the team to be in the top two in the league," Fitzgerald said. "I think it's achievable."

The Knights return their top two scorers from last season in senior forward Molly Lapolla and junior midfielder Ariel Roger. Senior midfielder Erica Swanson is a four-year varsity starter, but she missed most of last season with two broken collar bones. Fitzgerald said she's back healthy this season and ready to contribute.

Senior fullback Megan Teixeira and junior sweeper Emma McCarthy anchor the Knights' defense. Both were second-team, all-league selections last season.

Fitzgerald said the team's strengths are speed and an ability to play well together. He said his biggest concern is on offense.

"The question mark is how well we do on the attack," he said. "Our team creates chances but we're not, at this point, finishing."

Mills (2-1-1)

The Vikings enter their first year in the Bay Division with one of their best teams in years. If they can rebuild a defensive line hurt by graduation, the Vikings could surprise some teams this season.

"Every game is a challenge for us," said Mills coach Terry Andreacchi. "I just hope we compete well. We've never been tested like this, all the time. We just want to show everybody that Mills belongs in the Bay."

Offense shouldn't be a problem for Mills. The Vikings return their top two scorers from last season in senior midfielder Keriann Aronson, the Ocean Division's Most Valuable Player last season, and senior forward Jennifer Agius.

"[Aronson] brings real clout," Andreacchi said. "She's versatile. She can do a lot of things, she can score and get back on defense."

Arlene Winkelbaur will also help out offensively.

Sophomore midfielder Ashley Miller works well with Aronson and senior Kaylene Bolla gives Mills experience on the flank.

New to the team this season is sophomore goalkeeper Becky Belknap, who was the co-player of the year for the Ocean Division in volleyball.

"She hasn't reached her potential yet," Andreacchi said.

San Mateo (2-2-1)

The Bearcats barely avoided being sent to the Ocean Division last season after a last-place finish. Now, coach Victor Montoya just hopes to improve this season.

"We have more balance as a team, in terms of players," Montoya said. "I think we may be a little stronger in the midfield, which was a weakness last year. Hopefully we'll do better than last year."

The offense should be bolstered by the return of junior forward Jennifer Liu. She made the varsity team as a freshman but sat out last season with an injured knee. She's back and Montoya expects good things from her.

"She's been playing a lot of club ball and is pretty healthy," Montoya said.

Liu scored three goals against South City in the Burlingame tournament. Junior sweeper Rachel Morin gives the Bearcats a solid presence on defense. She'll need to be strong as San Mateo breaks in a freshman goalkeeper, Deniz High, who is replacing four-year player Justine Morey.

"She's doing good," Montoya said. "She's been trained well. She has good basic mechanics."

Woodside

Wildcats' coach Jose Navarette was cautiously optimistic about this year's squad. But an injury knocked out one of his best players and academic problems took their toll as well. Now, Navarette doesn't know what to expect.

"We were looking forward to this season, but the first couple of weeks have been a horror show," Navarette said. "Now we're a little more leery of what we can accomplish."

If nothing else, sophomore goalkeeper Yiana Dimmitt should give Woodside a chance to at least be in every game. One of top goalkeepers in the state, Dimmitt continues to grow.

"She's gotten better. She's also more assertive. She's taken on more of a leadership role," Navarette said.

Offense was the Wildcats biggest problem last season, but Navarette is hoping with a year of experience, plus the addition of Erin Bedell, a transfer from St. Francis, that Woodside can find the back of the net a little more often. Joining her is junior Mia Ortiz, who Navarette said, "one of the hardest working players in the league. She's a workhorse."

The Woodside midfield may be the team's strongest unit. Rebecca Lyman, a junior, missed most of last season with a back injury after being named to the all-league team her freshman year. Joining her is Jessica Schulman, "who is basically our best ballhandler," Navarette said.

Freshman Megan McKee is charged with replacing sweeper Alli Haag, who was lost for the season when she injured her knee in a club tournament during Thanksgiving break. Navarette is not worried about McKee's ability to handle the job.

"She's been mixing it up with the older girls," Navarette said. "She's a freshman. Someone needs to tell her that."