AnnArbor.com's fifth of 10 fall sports previews takes a look at Washtenaw County's girls golf teams.

Margaret Burns (sr.), Pioneer: Burns led her team in goals with 18 last season despite not being a starter. As a senior, she’ll look to get even more playing time … and goals.

Kelsey Gradwohl (jr.), Huron: She scored 11 goals as a sophomore, the most out of all the returning players on the River Rats’ state runner-up squad.

Emy Guttman (sr.), Pioneer: The All-State midfielder scored the only two goals in last season’s state final win over Huron and contributed a total of 15 for the season.

Grace Wilson (sr.), Pioneer: Another returning All-State player, Wilson won’t appear on the stat sheet as much as her aforementioned teammates, but her midfield prowess is vital to the team’s success.

DEXTER DREADNAUGHTS Though Dexter is technically a first-year team, its roster includes 10 former Washtenaw Whippets starters. Unlike most teams in their inaugural seasons, the Dreadnaughts’ will have a lot of experience on the field.

Coach: Craig Flocken (1st year). Last season: 2010 will be Dexter’s first season with its own field hockey team. Key returners (from the Whippets): Megan Flocken (so., M), Emily Gillis (so., D), Caitlin Greeley (jr., D), Sarah Prielipp (jr., G). Key newcomers: Megan Cansfield (so., F), Samantha Griffith (jr., M), Leonie Ohlenhoff (sr., F). Strength: Two defenders and a goalie with three years of varsity experience apiece will give the team a solid backline. Weakness: Offensive output. Most of the newer players are on the attacking end. Outlook: Bringing with them some experience from the Whippets, the Dreads should do well in Division IV, but as a first year program, it could take them a few seasons to succeed in the postseason Coach Flocken says: “The key to the whole season is going to be how much of a load the experienced players can shoulder while the newer girls learn the game. And if they can hold down the fort while the other girls gain that experience, we’ll be OK.”

GREENHILLS GRYPHONS After dropping to Division II last season, the Gryphons finished one point above the last-place Washtenaw Whippets. The Gryphons lost three-time All-State midfielder Miranda Dershimer to graduation, but helping shore up that loss will be junior Kasey Gardiner. Gardiner played varsity as a freshman but took last year off and, though she isn’t the phenom on the field that she is on the tennis court (she’s never lost a set in high school), her athleticism will be a big plus for the Gryphons on offense.

Coach: Tom Weinfurther (21st year). Last season: 4-5-5, finished second-to-last in Division II. Key Returners: Miriam Akerball (jr., M), Julia Butz (sr., D), Kasey Gardiner (jr., F), Sarah Lazarfeld (jr., F), Sierra Patton (jr., G), Maya Price (sr., G), Larissa Svintsitski (jr., M). Key Newcomers: Allie Chatas (fr., M/F), Elisia Ceballo-Countryman (fr., M/F), Weakness: Numbers. The Gryphons have just 15 players, which is fine unless the injury bug rears its ugly head. Strength: Desire, speed and team chemistry. Outlook: The Gryphons should be improved and be able to escape the cellar of Division II this season. But with a lineup filled with talented juniors, the real season to watch for them may be next year. Coach Weinfurther says: “The way they play as a team is wonderful. Everyone’s working hard and the more they succeed, the more they realize they can.”

HURON RIVER RATS The River Rats have a strong class of returning junior players, but replacing the 12 seniors who led Huron to back-to-back state championship games - both losses to cross-town Pioneer - will be a difficult task.

Coach: Tia Sutton (2nd year) Last season: 17-2-1. The only blemishes on Huron’s record came at the hands of Pioneer. Key Returners: Lilia Bouzit (jr., D), Lexi Collins (jr., D), Kelsey Gradwohl (jr., M), Anna Masini (jr., F), Taylor Standiford (jr., F). Key Newcomers: Katie Yeatts (fr., F). Strength: The River Rats have confidence after a second straight trip to the state finals. Weakness: The Pioneer field hockey team. Outlook: Even with less experience than last season, Huron is always a favorite to make a deep playoff run. Coach Sutton says: “We are a young team, but I’m hoping for us to learn a lot, grow and play well this season.”

PIONEER PIONEERS The Pioneers now have five straight state championships and 21 titles in the program’s history. Every year Pioneer loses Division I college athletes to graduation, but somehow never seem to take a step back and a lot of that has to do with coach Jane Nixon, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association 2009 High School National Coach of the Year.

Coach: Jane Nixon (21st year). Last season: Finally lost a game (to Bloomfield Hills Marian) and tied against Huron before taking down the River Rats in a repeat of the 2008 state final game. Key Returners: Yoojin Chang (sr.), Sarah Gallagher (sr.), Emy Guttman (sr., F), Beth Johnson (sr.), Emma Hamstra (sr., G), Clanci Mackenzie (sr.). Key Newcomers: Morgen Barroso (jr.), Anjela Galimberti (jr.), Anny Hully (so.), Shelby Supika (so.), Molly Thompson (so.). Strength: The Pioneers have confidence, and a strong group of freshmen will replace last year’s graduates. Weakness: Losing AnnArbor.com’s 2009 player of the year, Kelsey Thompson, and Allie Stein, an All-State player and co-captain last year. Outlook: The Pioneers don’t rebuild, they reload. As always, Jane Nixon’s squad will be in the hunt for a state title. Coach Nixon says: “We’re keeping it simple and making sure we’re taking care of working hard and being the strongest teammates we can be. We’re taking it one practice at a time and one day at a time, and making sure we’re doing our best at each moment.”

SALINE HORNETS After reaching the top of Division III last year, the Hornets will play in Division II this season. It’s the second time in as many years that the fourth-year program will be moving up a division.

Coach: Don Hes (4th year). Last season: Saline compiled a 10-2-2 record with losses to Huron and the Washtenaw Whippets. Key returners: Sam Cannell (sr., M), Ali Cope (jr., M), Kelsey Longsavage (sr., F), Jessie Opaleski (jr., G), Sarah Tommelein (sr., F). Key newcomers: Annie Carter (so., M/F), Karsin Tall (so., M/F). Strength: Speed and team unity. Weakness: Lost 12 seniors from last year’s team. Outlook: Moving up a division and having a young team is not a good combination, but the Hornets have proven to be up to the challenge of moving up a division each of the previous two years. Coach Hes says: “We want to go to Division I. That’s our goal, and that’s where I expect to be within three years.”

SKYLINE EAGLES The young Skyline group will have more experience and more players heading into the 2010 season than they did last year in the program’s second year of existence. Still no seniors, but having juniors with varsity experience should be a big help.

Coach: Jennifer Darga (2nd year). Last season: The Eagles went 4-7-2. Key Returners: Katie Davis (jr., F), Sanna Fraleigh (so., G), Catie Holmes (jr., F), Sonali Patel (jr. D). Key Newcomers: Jordan Stirling (so., F). Strength: Crafty passing game and individual talent. Weakness: Lack of team chemistry. Outlook: With a confident coaching staff and young, talented players, the Eagles could be among the better Division IV teams this year. Coach Darga says: “We’re playing up a lot (in divisions). It’s a diverse schedule. We’ll definitely be at the top of Division IV. I’m confident in my players.”

WASHTENAW WHIPPETS The team made up of players from Chelsea and Manchester is moving down a division after finishing last in Division II last year. But with enough varsity players to have substitutes (which they didn’t have last year), the team looks to find success against its new competition.

Co-coaches: Roxy Block (7th year) and Leslie Fry Last season: 4-6-4. Key Returners: Casey Fry (sr., M), Madeline Inglis (so., D). Key Newcomers: Maggie Cole (7th), Meghan Cole (7th), Ambur Flores (sr., G), Sarah Mesko (7th). Strength: A courageous and adventurous bunch of new players are filling in the gaps left from Dexter splitting off. Weakness: Sixteen of the 18 players are new to the varsity level, four of the newcomers were on JV last year and the rest are new to field hockey altogether. Outlook: The Whippets will have a tough time competing this season since they are using players who are new to the game, even though they are moving down a division. Coach Block says: “Our level of play is better than ever. I think we are going to be able to hold our own.”