No. 13 Park Ridge

Last year’s record: 17-4-1

Final ranking: No. 15

Marquee game: at Emerson, Sept. 5

Best assets: The Owls pack a powerful and energetic one-two scoring punch in junior forwards Mikaela Heyboer (25 goals, nine assists, third team all-Bergen in 2013) and Shayna Bohus (25 goals, 10 assists, first team all-league). They are among eight returning starters for Park Ridge, which fell in the North 1, Group 1 final to New Milford last year. Included in the sterling list of returnees for coach Dave Schneider’s team are sophomores Callie Bohus and Kelsi Stangl and junior Anna Rizzie, who should all anchor a strong defense for Park Ridge, which has won two NJIC Patriot titles in a row and three of the last four. Also sparking the Owls will be senior left midfielder Ashley Kirk, junior center/midfielder Madeline Clancy and senior captain and midfielder Lilli Abraham. Senior Mia Pagano is back to bolster the team in the net.

Biggest concern: “This is a whole new year and we never can take anything for granted; we have to earn everything we get on the field,” said Schneider. “Our number one priority is conditioning and we want to be ready to go the entire 80 minutes, and, if necessary, 100 if there are overtimes. That’s what we pride ourselves on, that we don’t tire out in the final, potentially crucial minutes, of the game. We’ll just look to put forth the best effort we have game in and game out and go from there.” Other contributors for Park Ridge will include sophomore forward Kelly McCann, sophomore left wing Haley Raspanti, junior right wing Dominique Franco and junior forward Devyn Molinari.

— Ed Mills