For Santa Fe Preparatory head girls soccer coach Stephanie Coppola, this season represents something of a homecoming.

Coppola coached the Blue Griffins previously from 1985-87, and was announced as former head coach Rennae Ross' successor in February. Ross left the program after 18 seasons and three state titles, including Class A-AAA crowns in 2003 and 2005.

As she begins her second stint at Santa Fe Prep, Coppola says that she's glad to be back coaching in the high school ranks.

"It just seemed like an opportune time for me to have a program of my own again," Coppola says.

Coppola is no stranger to the state's prep soccer scene. She was the head girls soccer coach at Santa Fe High School for three seasons before resigning in January 2007, and was the co-head coach of the St. Michael's boys junior varsity squad last season.

Coppola also coaches an under-15 girls club team affiliated with Rio Vista F.C. in Albuquerque during the spring.

Coppola said that the decision to return to Santa Fe Prep was an easy one.

"I've known so many people there over the years. ... It just seemed like the right place to go," Coppola says.

The Blue Griffins are in a rebuilding mode this year after a 6-16 2008 campaign. The team returns just two seniors and three juniors, meaning that the rest of the varsity slots will be filled by underclassmen.

"It's a heavily laden sophomore and freshmen team," Coppola says.

Key returnees include senior forward June Broadley, attacking midfielder Maura Milder, and sophomore captain Emily Hickmont, who plays central defender.

The Blue Griffins will lock horns in District 2A-AAA play with perennial rival St. Michael's (16-7, 6-0 in 2AAA last year).

The Lady Horsemen were eliminated in the Class A-AAA state semifinals last season, losing 1-nil to Bosque School, the eventual state champion.

St. Michael's head coach Ed Velie says Albuquerque Sandia Prepartaory is the preseason favorite to take the crown this year, but the Lady Horsemen are close at the Lady Sun Devils' heels.

"I said at the parent meeting the other night that I think we have a good chance of making it to the championship game," Velie says. "But Sandia Prep has to be the favorites with the people they have coming back, hands down."

The Lady Horsemen have plenty of depth this year, with 14 players returning from last year, including senior striker Jamie Palermo, who scored 33 goals and had 10 assists last season.

Junior Michelle Bustamante will start the season at sweeper for St. Michael's, while Jamie Hogan will patrol the central midfield.

Junior Liana Coppola, who was good for nine goals and nine assists last year, will be counted on to play an expanded role this fall.

District 2AAAAA

The Demonettes of Santa Fe High look to turn over a new leaf under first-year head coach Patrick Lucero.

Lucero has coached club soccer in Santa Fe and Albuquerque for the past 15 seasons, and is looking forward to his first season in charge of a high school program.

"It's our last year in (Class) AAAAA soccer, and were one of the smallest schools in AAAAA soccer, so were really looking to make an impression before we go down to AAAA next season," Lucero says.

The Demonettes (3-15, 0-8 2AAAAA) will be led by a trio of seniors that includes goalie Mara Dauber, striker Claire Bartlett, and German exchange student Alanna Fauft. Junior exchange student Henrietta Lund, from Norway, is also expected to make a contribution.

"We have a powerhouse schedule," Lucero says. "I think we probably have one of the top five toughest schedules in the state."

The Demonettes play Albuquerque La Cueva, Albuquerque Sandia, and Albuquerque High in District 2AAAAA, and face Rio Rancho in a non-district match-up.

District 2AAAA

Capital head coach Bobby Garcia hopes that the Lady Jaguars (8-12, 3-5 2AAAA) can contend for second place in District 2AAAA, behind perennial powerhouse Los Alamos.

"We only lost two seniors (from last year's team), and we were loaded with freshman, so now we have a handful of sophomores," Garcia says.

Garcia says he expects seniors Brittany Rodriguez, Teresa Najaka and Lillian Acosta to provide leadership on the field this fall. They will be accompanied by a nine player-strong sophomore class, all of whom are returning varsity members.

"I don't know what type of talent Taos and Bernalillo have (this season), but I'm hoping to finish second in district," Garcia says. "I think Los Alamos is always going to win that district just because of the players they have, but it'd be nice if we could come in second."