"Certainly finishing over .500 and qualifying for the States are major goals, and I like the talent and enthusiasm of this group," said Han, a former Montclair High standout who also excelled at Colby in Maine. "Yes, we’re younger with only five seniors, and we will rely on several younger players, but many of those same underclassmen have varsity experience, and they will only get better with continued hard work."

MKA, which finished 9-10-2 last autumn and reached the North 1, Group 1 State tourney, graduated four of its six players who received All-Essex and/or All-Colonial Hills Conference honors, including links Elise McMullen and Bridget Blake. Among the standouts returning this autumn are senior captain and four-year starter Paige Barrett (midfield) and junior three-year starter Mallory McDonagh (center forward), who was the team’s third-leading scorer in 2007 with four goals and nine points.

The promising forward line should see McDonagh patrolling wherever the action is, which means she’ll probably be at center forward where her distribution skills and potentially potent combination with the Cougars’ two speedy wing forwards, sophomores Kerry Fusco (three goals and seven points in 2007) and Jessie Chase, could enhance MKA’s scoring prowess.

At midfield, Barrett controls the flow with her great stick skills and ability to deliver the ball in short or long space. The outside midfielders are another talented and experienced combo, sophomore Skylar Zlotnick and junior Marion Nammack (three goals, two assists in 2007).

The center back is promising sophomore Meredith Moran, a returning starter who has excellent stick skills and a solid club field hockey background. She is the younger sister of former Cougar star Lindsay Moran, another graduated standout off last year’s squad.

The anchor defender in the back of Han’s newly instituted 3-3-3-1 formation is junior Katie Arena, a strong athlete and returning starter with a sturdiness to patrol in front of the goal area as a bona fide sweeper back.

In goalie is junior Devon Barrett, Paige’s younger sister, who was the backup last year to the since-graduated Brigid Frey. Devon Barrett has worked hard at goalie camps and appears ready to take a big step up as a strong net minder this season.

Other players to keep an eye on include backs such as seniors Allie Guccione, Jane Stanton, Caroline Clark and Dana Paolucci, junior Lacey Silvano and sophomore Savannah Freed, sophomore wings Jacqueline Wait and Lauren Menzies and sophomore backup goalie Becky Smith.

Many of the MKA players attended the Princeton Field Hockey Camp held in July and the nucleus of the team appears as strong as ever.

"We have a smaller number of players out this year [23 as compared to 30 in 2007], but many of the girls have played together in the past, and I think the chemistry of this team will be enhanced by that fact," said Han. "The coaching staff returns in its entirety, and I’m so impressed with the way they’ve worked with the girls, taking a one-on-one approach whenever possible while really teaching the game of field hockey."

Sisters Hilary and Megan Matson along with goalie’s coach Zandi Nammack are the veteran assistant coaches. Hillary Matson and Nammack are Princeton graduates while Megan, the Cougars’ jayvee coach, played at Nazareth College.

On a local Montclair note, Hillary is planning to wed former MHS and Princeton lacrosse standout Matt Trevenen in October.

MKA opens the season on Saturday, Sept. 13, hosting Governor Livingston in an 11 a.m. start at Muenster Field. The Cougars are then at Glen Ridge, Tuesday, Sept. 16, before hosting archrival Newark Academy, Thursday, Sept. 18, back at Muenster (both games at 4 p.m.).

Top teams to watch in the CHC again this autumn figure to be Pingry, Mountain Lakes and Boonton, all of whom play on faster artificial turf fields.