GIRLS’ WATER POLO

* The Proven: Foothill, which won the Southern Section Division I title last season, features some of the best young players in the county. Sophomores Gabbie Domanic and Brittany Hayes earned first-team All-Division I honors last season and the Knight defense is anchored by Emily Feher, a sophomore goalie who was a second-team pick. One question mark is who will replace Jackie Pirro, last season’s physical two-meter player whose senior leadership was a major factor in their title run. . . . Capistrano Valley is led by UCLA-bound Amber Stachowski, a U.S. junior national team member who will join her sister Ashley with the Bruins next season. Their younger sister, Aimee, a sophomore, and sophomore goalie Meridith McColl are also key players. Both were All-Southern Section picks as freshmen.

* The Promising: Edison, with four first-team all-leaguers returning, could be ready to break through in the high-powered Sunset League. Caitlin Wilkes, a senior goalie, and Ali Malczynski, a senior two-meter player, have Edison eyeing the league title. . . . Savanna is looking for its first league title, and with five returning staters and three all-leaguers, the Rebels could challenge favorite Brea Olinda. Senior goalie Stephanie Simpson and junior Megan Anderson have the Rebels aiming for their first playoff victory.

* Preseason Top 10: 1. Foothill--Defending Division I champion still has plenty of talent; 2. Capistrano Valley--Cougars have perhaps the county’s best field player and one of the county’s best goalies; 3. Santa Margarita--Last season’s Division IV champion has a tough one-two combination in sophomore Erika Figge and junior Kristina Kunkel; 4. Marina--How good are the Vikings? Foothill’s coaches picked them as their preseason No. 1 team in the county; 5. Newport Harbor--Katherine Belden will try to help the Sailors to a second section title in three years; 6. Corona del Mar--Sophomores Christina Hewko and Danielle Carlson helped the Sea Kings reach the Division IV title game last season; 7. El Toro--Ke’ala Carter led the Chargers to the South Coast League title last season; 8. Irvine--Vaqueros will battle Newport Harbor for Sea View League title; 9. Villa Park--U.S. Olympian Ryan Bailey, a first-year coach, will need a big effort from his players to unseat Foothill in the Century League; 10. Edison--Chargers have the firepower and experience to make a run at Sunset League title.

* Key Dates: Dec. 7-9, Villa Park tournament; Dec. 28-29, Corona del Mar/Newport Harbor tournament; Jan. 12-13, Santa Barbara tournament; Feb. 1-3, Irvine Southern California Championships tournament; Feb. 17, 20, 23--Southern Section playoffs; Feb. 27, 28--Southern Section finals at Belmont Plaza.

* League Favorites: Century--Foothill; Empire--El Dorado; Freeway--Sonora; Golden West--Tustin; Orange--Brea Olinda; Pacific Coast--Corona del Mar; Sea View--Newport Harbor; Serra--Santa Margarita; South Coast--Capistrano Valley; Sunset--Marina.

* Fast Fact: Santa Margarita, which won the section Division IV title last season, will be entered with its Serra League brethren in the Division I playoffs this season.