KEY DATES

Jan. 15-18: GMAC tournament

Jan. 21-25: Districts

Jan. 30: Regional quarterfinals

Feb. 2: Regional semifinals

Feb. 5: Regional finals

Feb. 8: State semifinals

Feb. 15-16: State finals at Melbourne Central Catholic

DEFENDING STATE CHAMPIONS

Class 5A: Cypress Bay; 4A: Orange Park Fleming Island; 3A: Plantation American Heritage; 2A: Melbourne West Shore; 1A: Tampa Prep.

SEASON OUTLOOKS – CLASS 5A

1. FERGUSON – Coach: Jose Aguilar; Last season: 20-3-2, Class 5A regional finals; Top players: Carlos Sanchez (jr. M); Giovanni Herrera (sr. F); Douglas Guerra (jr. D); Noteworthy: Only seven players return, including just two starters. But team still has a talented senior-junior core.

2. CORAL REEF – Coach: Abiodun Adeyemi; Last season: Class 14-4-3; 5A regional quarterfinals; Top players: Jonathan Rizkalla (sr. F); David Faredes (jr. D); Jean Paul Lopez (sr. D); Noteworthy: Junior midfielder Austin Ruel is another talent on a team that relies on defense.

3. MIAMI BEACH – Coach: Edgar Botto; Last season: 13-5-3; Top players: Tomas Moffatt (sr. F); Giovanni Araujo (sr. D); Jhan Guzman (sr. D); Noteworthy: This team plays solid defense, and Moffatt, who had 8 goals and 10 assists, is the playmaker.

4. PALMETTO – Coach: Hart Baur. Last season: N/A. Top players: Kevin Haller (jr. F); J.C. Contorrakes (jr. D); Denis Tomazzi (sr. D); James Bruce (sr. F).

5. SUNSET – Coach: Kevin Myers; Last season: 10-6-2; Top players: Juan Marquez (sr. M); Jonathan Ochoa (sr. M); Fernando Hernandez (jr. D); Noteworthy: Knights should be solid core three and also sophomore keeper Chris Armendariz (six shutouts) and junior forward Jonathan Diaz (12 goals).

6. VARELA – Coach: Juan Monge. Last season: 6-7-5. Top players: Santiago Gonzalez (sr. F); Kevin Pizzolo (jr. M); Santiago Restrepo (sr. M); Daniel Feon (jr. M). Noteworthy: New coach Monge has talent to get Vipers back in playoff hunt.

7. CORAL PARK – Coach: Michel Fotso; Last season: 7-9; Top players: Juan Ganan (sr. M); Kelby Zambrano (sr. M); Emmanuel Castaneda (jr. M); Noteworthy: Ganan (15 goals, 12 assists) leads a strong midfield. Coach thinks Rams will surprise.

8. COLUMBUS – Coach Michael Stewart. Last season: 4-4-11. Top players: Danny Del Rio (jr. M/F); Alejandro Pita (jr. M/F); Max Palenzuela (sr. GK); Joey Tolgyesi (so. D). Noteworthy: Team will be on the road most of season with home field available only twice.

9. KROP – Coach: Tomas Gonzalez; Last season: N/A. Top players: Agustin Agiel (so. M); Dan Cohen (fr., M); Getro Alexandre (so., M); Rendy Vincent (so., M). Noteworthy: Solid defensive team led mostly by sophomores.

10. SOUTH MIAMI – Coach: Victor Arias; Last season: 4-1-12; Top players: Facundo Centurion (so. F); Hebert Wilson (jr. D); Jonathan Flores (jr. M); Noteworthy: New coach Arias said this is a deep and talented that should win its district despite its youth.

CLASS 4A

1. AMERICAN – Coach Richard Pelaez; Last season: 22-3-2, Class 4A state semifinals: Top players: Daniel Zuluaga (sr. G); Alberto Oyaga (sr. M); William Millan (sr. D); Noteworthy: Seven starters return, but American must replace Francisco Aguirre, who scored 37 goals and was Dade’s Player of the Year.

2. BELEN – Coach: Tanger Mendonca; Last season: 16-7-2, Class 4A regional semifinals; Top players: Eduardo Valle (sr. F); Kevin Gonzalez (sr. F); Frankie De La Camara (fr. M); Noteworthy: Six starters return, and nine talented freshmen have arrived.