Boys soccer: The poll

1. McDonogh

Last season: 20-1-3, ranked No. 1

•The defending MIAA A Conference champs have eight players who were part of the Baltimore Casa Mia Bays' under-15 national championship team.

2. River Hill

Last season: 16-4, No. 3

•The class 2A state champion is poised to make another run with seven returning starters, including All-Metro selection Jake Pace.

3. Archbishop Curley

Last season: 20-5, No. 2

•The Friars, MIAA A Conference runners-up last season, will vie for the top spot with the return of defender Oumar Ballo and goalie John Connolly.

4. Mount St. Joseph

Last season: 14-7, No. 6

•The Gaels, who lost in last year's MIAA AConference semifinals to Curley, are shooting for their first conference crown since they were co-champs with Loyola in 2005.

5. Bel Air

Last season: 14-4-1, No. 7

•The Bobcats had an impressive run through the state tournament before losing to Bethesda-CC, 1-0, in the Class3A final. Bel Air has 12 returning players.

6. Calvert Hall

Last season: 10-9-3, No. 13

•The Cardinals, who were knocked out of last year's MIAA A Conference quarterfinals by Loyola, are seeking their first league title since 2003.

7. Perry Hall

Last season: 17-2-1, No. 4

•The Gators have one of the strongest starting lineups in Baltimore County and hope to build on last season's run to the Class 4A state title game.

8. Loyola

Last season: 11-6-3, No. 5

•The Dons lost 14 players from a team that lost to eventual champion McDonogh in the MIAA A Conference semifinals, but they will still be a force.

9. Fallston

Last season: 11-4-1, No. 12

•The Cougars have seven returning starters on a team that lost in the Class3A state quarterfinals last season to Bel Air on penalty kicks.

10. Marriotts Ridge

Last season: 10-4-2, unranked

•The Mustangs are considered one of the most dangerous teams in the area, with nine returning starters and few weaknesses in their starting lineup.

11. Broadneck

Last season: 14-2-1, No. 10

• The Bruins lost seven starters from last year's team that won the Anne Arundel County regular-season title and advanced to the Class 4A East semifinals.

12. Severna Park

Last season: 15-4, No. 9

•First-year coach Roy Dunshee has a solid group of seniors on a team that won the Class 4A East regional championship last season.

13. C. Milton Wright

Last season: 13-3-1, No. 11

•The Mustangs have seven returning starters on a team that advanced to the regional final last season before losing to Perry Hall.

14. Gilman

Last season: 9-9-2, unranked

•The Greyhounds lost just one senior on a team that knocked off then-No. 1 Calvert Hall and advanced to the MIAA AConference playoffs.

15. Loch Raven

Last season: 11-8, No. 15

•The Raiders return seven starters from a team that lost in overtime in the Class 2A state title game against River Hill.

Others considered

•Arundel (9-4, unranked), Franklin (13-3-2, No. 14), Liberty (14-2-2, No.8), Patapsco (9-5, unranked), Towson (12-4-1, unranked)