As promised, I'm offering a few predictions on the upcoming high school field hockey season. These are not by category, or in any particular order.

Skowhegan will win the state title, and allow at most five goals this season.

Gardiner will again be the second-best team in the state, and will give Skowhegan two tough games (Sept. 27 in Skowhegan and the regional final). The Tigers won state titles in football and baseball, and if they were in Class B in field hockey this season, they'd win another.

Waterville will again have a good chance to win the state title, but the Purple Panthers won't be able to do it by winning four one-goal games in a row this time.

This will be the year Oak Hill breaks through and makes the Western B playoffs.

Teams on the rise: Winslow, Maine Central Institute, Messalonskee

Tough-luck teams: Cony and Lawrence will both be improved and have quality coaches, but won't move up because of Skowhegan and Gardiner.

Rebuilding teams that could be better than you think: Mt. Blue, Mt. View

State champions: Skowhegan, Maranacook, Foxcroft