It’s an occurrence about as rare as a solar eclipse. A team not known as Darien is the preseason favorite in Connecticut.

That team is New Canaan, which beat the Blue Wave three out of four times a year ago.

Meanwhile, it’s business as usual in New York, where Northport, St. Anthony’s and Bayport-Blue Point each bring winning streaks into a new season. 

Continue on to see how the Top 10 unfolds, and check back every Tuesday beginning March 29 for National Top 25 updates.

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1. NORTHPORT (N.Y.)

Northport enters the 2022 season on a 34-game winning streak that actually dates back to 2019, when it last won a state championship. There’s no reason to believe this train is slowing down any time soon. The Tigers are the favorite to capture a third straight Long Island Class A title. They return hard-working midfielder Ella Cabrera (North Carolina), Duke-bound senior Kaylie Mackiewicz and Stony Brook commit Bella Germani on attack among a deep and talented squad.

2. ST. ANTHONY’S (N.Y.)

The Friars are able to play their challenging non-league schedule again, which includes a meeting with New Jersey perennial powerhouse Ridgewood. St. Anthony’s is as stacked as ever, with seniors Abby LoCascio (Northwestern) and Ava Biancardi (Duke), along with junior Kacey McGorry, leading the attack line, Stony Brook commit Samantha Ednie as part of a deep midfield unit and junior goaltender Shae Lembo (Stanford) anchoring things in the back.

3. BAYPORT-BLUE POINT (N.Y.)

Bayport-Blue Point is coming off a dream season, finishing 2021 undefeated after winning a first-ever Long Island championship. Gone is USA Lacrosse Magazine’s Northeast Player of the Year Maddigan Miller, now at Stanford, but there’s reason to believe the Phantoms can make it two in a row. Coach Ryan Gick returns Division I attackers in Mikaela Mooney (Albany) and Haydin Eisfeld (Stony Brook), as well as Florida-bound midfielder Keira Rooney, Hofstra commit Christine Dannenfelser on defense and Felicia Giglio (Navy).

4. NEW CANAAN (CONN.)

Meet the favorites in Connecticut this year. The Rams won 20 consecutive games, three against Darien including the FCIAC championship game, before their lone loss came to the Blue Wave in the state semifinals. Leading the way are North Carolina-bound senior midfielder Kaleigh Harden, senior goaltender Claire Mahoney (Brown), senior attack Dillyn Patten (Cornell), who had 53 goals a year ago and was the MVP of the FCIAC tournament, and senior attack Hollis Mulry (USC), who added 43 goals last spring.

5. DARIEN (CONN.)

You can bet the Blue Wave are loving their underdog status to rival New Canaan this year. Make no mistake, Darien is loaded with talent, with the top-ranked junior in the country in North Carolina commit Chloe Humphrey leading an attack that also features All-American senior Molly McGuckin, a midfield that features Michigan-bound Ceci Stein, a defense anchored by Syracuse commit Kaci Benoit and a Boston College-bound goaltender in Shea Dolce.

6. GARDEN CITY (N.Y.)

In his first year as head coach, Dave Ettinger helped lead the Trojans to their first Long Island title since 2017. Can they make it an encore? Senior attack Megan Rode, a Syracuse commit, is back after scoring three goals and adding an assist in the LI Class B final. She’s joined up front by fellow senior Kristen Hegarty (American), midfielders Caitlin McNaboe (Marist) and Marie Cacciabaudo (Virginia Tech) and senior goaltender Amanda Grimes, who made 80 saves last spring.

7. MANHASSET (N.Y.)

Emma LoPinto may be gone, now suiting up as a freshman at the University of Florida, but there’s no lack of talent on this perennial powerhouse. That includes Richmond-bound senior attack Alexis Morton, who had 44 goals and 19 assists last year, senior midfielder Ashley Newman (Yale), and talented juniors Caitlin Barrett, a Duke-bound midfielder, and defenders Alexandra Schneider (Virginia) and Alexandra Maliagros (Dartmouth).

8. WANTAGH (N.Y.)

The Warriors are hoping to take that next step after losing to Manhasset in the Nassau Class C championship last year, and senior midfielder Madison Taylor could be the game-changer to get them there. A year ago, the Northwestern commit had 56 goals and 27 assists while also dominating draw controls. Also back for Wantagh are talented junior attackers Eva Ingrilli, a North Carolina commit, and Virginia-bound Madison Alaimo.

9. CICERO-NORTH SYRACUSE (N.Y.)

Cicero-North Syracuse ended a 24-year sectional title drought last spring, beating Baldwinsville by one goal in the Section III Class A championship game. Leading the charge this spring will be Francesca Tortora, a Stony Brook-bound midfielder who had 52 goals and 42 assists for 94 points, Brooke Molchanoff, who had 37 goals and 15 assists, is a sophomore attacker and draw specialist, and Nicole O’Neil is a senior goaltender who made 62 saves.

10. BALDWINSVILLE (N.Y.)

Baldwinsville is a perennial title contender, and this season is no different. Carlie Desimone, a junior attack/midfielder, who will play at nearby Syracuse, had 37 goals and eight assists a year ago. Also back is Pace commit Samantha Tanguay, a senior goalie who made 109 saves as a junior, and Delaware bound junior Sophia Muscolino, who had 21 goals and 14 assists as a sophomore.