MaxPreps 2013 Fall Soccer Early Contenders

Summer vacations have ended - now it's time for corner kicks, throw-ins and goals being scored in the American states that play soccer during the fall.

MaxPreps, adidas and Dick's Sporting Goods have teamed up to bring you 20 of the nation's Early Contenders - 10 girls and 10 boys teams with solid soccer traditions that will battle it out for consideration as the top team in the land.

Our MaxPreps professional photographers have done photo shoots with each squad and we also will have video features to go with most teams' previews. It all equals the best high school soccer previews in the nation for the fall season, and your guide to some of the schools and players to watch for.

Here are the previews for all 20 teams:

Maria Carrillo (Santa Rosa, Calif.) Girls - See photo gallery
The Pumas were the NSCAA mythical national champions for the fall season. Coach Debra LaPrath has been the only coach this program has ever known, and her penchant for getting her players to work together and fight for each other has led to major success at this program in Northern California's wine country. Can the Pumas repeat? Find out more by clicking here.

Marin Academy (San Rafael, Calif.) Boys - See photo gallery
The Wildcats hail from an elite institution north of San Francisco and bring an experienced and renowned coach to each contest. Marin Academy has been a juggernaut on the North Coast Section scene for many years now, and last year took a huge leap on the national scene as well. Find out more by clicking here.

Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.) Girls - See photo gallery
The Knights hope that strength in numbers will pay off. Three big-time star players have moved on after graduating, but there is a stable of players back who already know about the history and success the program is famous for. There will be very few easy games, but with coach Alberto Starace at the helm, the Knights should be up there in the national rankings. Find out more by clicking here.

Notre Dame (Peoria, Ill.) Boys - See photo gallery
The Irish were unbeaten against Illinois competition last season behind a potent scoring attack. This year's squad has similar aspirations, but the talent and experience lie on the defensive end. Will the Irish make a transition, or just find new players to pick up the scoring slack? Find out more by clicking here.

Viewmont (Bountiful, Utah) Girls - See photo gallery
The Vikings are mainstays in the state final match in Utah lately. After just one year with alum Emalee Tate leading the way, they captured another state crown. Experience is how the Vikings succeed, and they have more of it this season in a title defense. Find out more by clicking here.

Jesuit (Carmichael, Calif.) Boys - See photo gallery
The Marauders were the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings last season and they have six starters plus key reserves coming back for a repeat performance. One of California's most storied programs appears to be just as good as ever. Find out more by clicking here.

Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) Girls - See photo gallery
The Warriors won their sixth state title in 20 years of girls soccer last season. No school in Ohio (boys or girls) has won more than five state crowns. This year's squad has talent abroad, but that talent is a mix of young players and older ones. Can the younger players mesh with the older ones to keep this juggernaut chugging along in the quest for back-to-back unbeaten season? Find out more by clicking here.

Jacksonville (N.C.) Boys - See photo gallery
This military-town team is coming off a North Carolina 3A title and yet another year of making it to the East Regional final. The Cardinals are contenders for the state title every year in a competitive state. But now they are making the jump to national title Early Contender. Find out more by clicking here.

Tates Creek (Lexington, Ky.) Girls - See photo gallery
The Commodores finally won a Kentucky state title last season behind a two-headed scoring duo. Now Tates Creek will embark upon a title defense with lots of depth coming back. These girls stepping into starting roles may not have put up huge stats last year, but they learned how to play dominant soccer. Find out more by clicking here.

Delbarton (Morristown, N.J.) Boys - See photo gallery
Fresh off a NJSIAA Non-Public A championship in 2012, the Green Wave will prepare for their state title defense this fall by doing something they're well accustomed to: Traveling abroad. Find out more by clicking here.

Perrysburg (Ohio) Girls - See photo gallery
The Yellow Jackets outscored the opposition 108-5 last season. And though they say goodbye to an All-American forward, they have three defenders back along with more returning starters. A repeat state title may be in the works. Find out more by clicking here.

Battle Mountain (Edwards, Colo.) Boys - See photo gallery
The Huskies have been perennial state tournament entrants, and last season they put it all together en route to a state title. They are from the western slope of the Rocky Mountains and sometimes they can sneak up on teams. Not any more. Find out more by clicking here.

Glastonbury (Conn.) Girls - See photo gallery
The Tomahawks have been a Connecticut finals regular lately, but now tougher teams are coming into their division. Glastonbury isn't scared, and has plenty of experienced players coming back for a third-straight trip to the state finals. Find out more by clicking here.

St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.) Boys - See photo gallery
St. Xavier comes into the season with a dominant unbeaten streak of 55 matches but also a large new batch of starters. Which will tell the story of this year's team? Find out more by clicking here.

Montgomery (Skillman, N.J.) Girls - See photo gallery
The Cougars won a state title last season in one of the nation's best states. But they know that nothing comes easy, as playing in the state's toughest conference leaves very few easy games. Montgomery has impact players coming back and will definitely make a push to repeat. Who are those big-name returners? Find out more by clicking here.

Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) Boys - See photo gallery
The Trojans are one of the top private-school programs in North Carolina and come from a school that has a national Top 10 basketball squad among academy schools. Led by a coach with high pedigree in the club realm, they are looking to reload after graduation took some big names. Can Wesleyan Christian Academy make it to a fourth-straight state title matchup? Find out more by clicking here.

St. Anthony's (Melville, N.Y.) Girls - See photo gallery
The Friars come from a Long Island school that is famous for athletic success. They're certainly among the best on campus, as they come off back-to-back New York Catholic High School Athletic Association titles. Even more, they have talent coming back. Can they make it a three-peat? Find out more by clicking here.

Needham (Mass.) Boys - See photo gallery
The Rockets have a definite Hall of Fame coach in Don Brock and are coming off a one-loss season and a Massachusetts state title. They lost talent to graduation but bring up a host of youngsters from undefeated freshman and JV teams, and have a handful of seniors as well. Can they repeat? Find out more by clicking here.

Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) Girls - See photo gallery
The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference juggernaut lost a handful of Division 1 recruits. So what? Good Counsel is reloaded and ready to carry on with the tradition set by legendary coach Jim Bruno. After a one-loss season, the Falcons are flying high. Find out more by clicking here.

Arlington (LaGrangeville, N.Y.) Boys - See photo gallery
This upstate New York program is coming off a state title and brings a boatload of soccer tradition into the 2013 season. Will the Admirals be able to replace their top offensive player as they go for the repeat in the tough New York soccer world? Find out more by clicking here.