Which NJIC schools will rise to the top? (By Sean Farrell / Record Sports Department)

The small-school conference has seven teams in the preseason Top 25 and even more that will contend in the state tournament.

Lyndhurst leads the pack at No. 13 with Northeastern-bound scorer Kaydee Yallo. Saddle Brook will look to run the table again in the Meadowlands with 100-goal scorer Ashley Georgevich.

The Patriot Division may have the most interesting race with Emerson hoping to keep distance over Waldwick and Midland Park, a returning sectional champion.

Preseason Top 25 rankings

  1. Ramapo 16-3
  2. Northern Highlands 22-1
  3. DePaul 16-2
  4. NV/Demarest 15-3-3
  5. Wayne Valley 17-5-1
  6. Ramsey 19-3-1
  7. Immaculate Heart 11-5-1
  8. Westwood 13-6-2
  9. NV/Old Tappan 11-6-2
  10. Wayne Hills 10-7-2
  11. Pascack Hills 13-7
  12. Ridgewood 10-9-3
  13. Lyndhurst 18-4
  14. Pascack Valley 12-6-1
  15. Emerson 15-5-1
  16. Fair Lawn 9-8-1
  17. Clifton 7-10
  18. Bergen Tech 11-4-4
  19. Lakeland 12-7-1
  20. Rutherford 16-4-1
  21. Hawthorne 15-4-2
  22. Waldwick 12-4-2
  23. Saddle Brook 17-3
  24. Pompton Lakes 14-6-1
  25. West Milford 10-10