The Nike/US Lacrosse High School National Top 25s and Regional Top 10s for boys' and girls' lacrosse were released last week. Over the next few weeks, we will roll out in-depth previews for each of the five regions.

(Teams in the South region, including Florida and Texas, have already begun play. These rankings and capsules were written before the season started. Check back to uslaxmagazine.com for in-season updates each week.)

1. St. Ignatius Prep (Calif.)
2017 Record: 19-2

The Wildcats are coming off another impressive season that included picking up two top 25 wins and claiming their eighth straight West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) title. They look to pick up where they left off with standout senior returners such as goalie Mac Gates (Hofstra), defenseman James Gilfilan, midfielder Nick Rodi (Wesleyan), as well as juniors like midfielders Mark Stevens (Harvard) and Sam Parkinson and attackmen Payton St. Gem (Dartmouth) and Topher Bligh (Brown).

2. Regis Jesuit (Colo.)
2017 Record: 15-4

The Raiders return the bulk of their top players from last season and should be poised for another championship run after failing to defend their 2016 title. An especially strong junior class highlights this group with attacker/ leading scorer Jake Taylor (48 goals, 16 assists), faceoff specialist Joe Kassal (61.0 faceoff percentage) and first-team all-state midfielder Reed Babcock, but an outstanding group of seniors are not to be overlooked. Long-stick middie Charlie Maly (Drexel), defenseman Dom Mata (Utah), attackman Anders Erickson (Furman) and first-team all-state midfielder Patrick Roe lead a balanced squad that lost only its goalie and close defender.

3. Torrey Pines (Calif.)
2017 Record: 17-5

Last season started out so well with marquee wins over St. Ignatius (Calif.), Regis Jesuit (Colo.) and Loyola-Los Angeles (Calif.), but the Falcons never fully recovered from a rough stretch of four losses in five games and ended up knocked out in the San Diego Section Open semifinals. This year, they have to overcome the loss of Alderik Van Der Hedye to graduation and Zach Friedland to too many concussions, but a strong class of seniors, such as goalie Makail Fraboni (Navy), middies Ryan Ramirez (Bryant), Spencer Grant (Michigan) and Shayne Grant (Richmond) and defenders Evan Egan (UNC) and Blake Gagen (Delaware) should put TP back in the hunt, and a brutal schedule will have them prepared to make a run in the postseason.

4. San Ramon Valley (Calif.)
2017 Record: 20-3

The Wolves outscored their first two opponents in the North Coast Section Division I playoffs 32-4 but then was stunned in a double-overtime loss to Amador Valley (Calif.) in the semifinals to end an otherwise impressive season. They lost 10 seniors, including three All-Americans, but are expected to be back in the hunt this year. Goalie Cole French and attackman Drew Erickson, both Denver-bound, are among the new senior leaders.

5. La Costa Canyon (Calif.)
2017 Record: 18-2

The Mavericks lost 16 seniors and nine starters but expect to reload with talented young players in defense of their San Diego Section Open title, which marked their eighth CIF championship overall and third in four years. LCC had just one in-state loss, a two-goal decision against Torrey Pines. Among the returning players are a pair of juniors in All-American attackman J.J. Sillstrop (Denver) and long-stick middie Colin O’Connor (Towson), as well as sophomore midfielders Trey Kockler and Jorge Montgomery and sophomore goalie Hunter Binney, who could make a big impact after playing on varsity as freshmen last year. Sillstrop was the team’s leading scorer last year and the lone returning starter.

6. Loyola-Los Angeles (Calif.)
2017 Record: 21-4

The Cubs are coming off their second straight Southern Section CIF title but will have to replace six All-Americans and eight of 10 starters, including standout goalie Joe Theuer, to get the chance to three-peat. Among those spearheading the reloading process are senior faceoff specialist Aidan Hesse (Tufts), senior attackmen Weston Priestley and Henry Hasenberg, junior midfielder Ronan Gallagher, senior defenseman Patrick Casani and junior defenseman Will Kupiec.

7. Cherry Creek (Colo.)
2017 Record: 18-1

The Bruins returned to the throne in Colorado last year by collecting their record sixth state title, and despite some rebuilding, they look to stay on top under new coach Matthew Bocklet, who replaced the retired Bryan Perry. Cherry Creek knocked off defending champion Regis Jesuit in the Class 5A championship a year after failing to make the final for the first time since 2011, and the annual battle between the two likely will continue this season. Goalie Knox Dent (Army), attackman Henry Savage and midfielder Jimmy Erickson (Utah) are among the senior who are tasked with leading a squad that lost eight of 10 starters.

8. Corona del Mar (Calif.)
2017 Record: 18-3

The Sea Kings ended their season in the Southern Section South Division (Orange County) championship with an upset loss to Foothill-Santa Ana (Calif.), but they look to bounce back in 2018. They lost a pair of All-Americans and 12 seniors overall but had a strong junior class that will lead the way this season.

9. Coronado (Calif.)
2017 Record: 15-7

The Islanders made a surprising run to the San Diego Section Open finals, knocking out Torrey Pines in the semis, but couldn’t thwart La Costa Canyon. They should pick up right where they left off behind a strong senior class that includes attackman Nick DeMaio (Boston University), midfielder Jake Brophy (Holy Cross) and goalie Zion DeChesere (Utah).

10. Bellevue (Wash.)
2017 Record: 16-3

The Wolverines lost three All-Americans from their 2017 Class 3A championship squad but returns the bulk of the underclassmen-heavy roster. Among the top returners looking to help the team three-peat is senior defenseman Chase Overton, who also garnered All-American honors.

Players to Watch

Quentin Buchman, Santa Margarita Catholic (Calif.)
Sr., M (Notre Dame)

Isaiah Dawson, Bishop’s (Calif.)
Sr., M (Harvard)

Evan Egan, Torrey Pines (Calif.)
Sr., D (UNC)

Sam Handley, Jesuit (Ore.)
Sr., A (Penn) 

Beau Pederson, Park City (Utah)
Sr., A/M (Princeton)