If there's ever an edge for one Tri-Nine girls soccer team over another, it's which ones return the most experience.

If that's the case this year, look no further than two schools just five miles apart - Panther Creek and Green Hope. But as always under coach Kevin Todd, expect defending champ Apex to contend as well.

Apex (15-3-2): The Lady Cougars edged Green Hope for the outright conference title last year and will return speedy striker Alexis Murphy, a junior, along with Grace McCall, Christy Steger and Nikki Bowser, among others. Senior Heather Muller is a brick wall at goalkeeper, and she has signed to play for UNC-Asheville after she graduates.

The Cougars are ranked 9th among 4-A schools in the preseason state rankings.

Green Hope (17-4): The Falcons, ranked No. 11 in the preseason 4-A rankings, are led by senior Ashley Stokes. The UNC-Greensboro recruit holds the school record in career assists with 36. She had six goals and 14 assists in 2010, en route to an All-State selection.

Green Hope also returns Maura McDonnell - a sophomore who was vital to last year's third-round playoff run. Alexis Shaffer and Cameron Sigmon will provide the team's offense.

Athens Drive (12-8-2): The good news for Athens is that they return almost everybody from last year's team that finished tied for third in the Tri-Nine. The bad news is that it lost two longtime standouts - Rachel Collins and Hannah Eshraghi - to graduation.

The Lady Jaguars return two second team all-conference players in Casey Burcher and Emily Newsome.

Panther Creek (10-10-2): Panther Creek was made up almost entirely of sophomore and juniors last season, yet tied for third in the Tri-Nine. With four of those underclassmen who earned all-conference honors returning, the Catamounts seem poised to break through in coach Leigh Haase's second year.

Kim Gardner and Melissa Hauser were first-team Tri-Nine selections a year ago, while Megan Boop and Ashley Clark were second-team selections. Hauser has signed with Lenior-Rhyne while Clark has signed with Campbell.

Fuquay-Varina (8-11-2): The Lady Bengals will have to find a way to replace leading goal scorer Jessie Davis. Fuquay returns second-team Tri-Nine selections Christa Jackson and Kiersten Koenig.

Holly Springs (5-9-6): Julia Fisher, the team's leading scorer in 2010, returns to a Golden Hawks team that had some trouble adjusting in its first year of Tri-Nine play. Katelyn Noel, a second-team Tri-Nine selection, also comes back to bolster the Holly Springs attack.

Cary (4-12-1): Former N.C. State head coach Laura Kerrigan won coach of the year after her Lady Imps nearly won a playoff spot with improved play down the stretch of the 2010 season. Cary returns most of its team from last year but also adds goalkeeper Annie McHenry.

McHenry did not play school soccer last spring but has signed with UNC-Charlotte.

Middle Creek (5-11-2): The Mustangs are led by UNC-Charlotte recruit and first-team Tri-Nine selection Heather Carew.

Other area teams

Wake Christian (10-6-2): Nicole Smith, an all-state pick in 2010, is among eight starters returning for the Lady Bulldogs.

Wake Christian is chasing its fourth N.C. Christian School Association title in the last five years.

Cary Christian (20-1-1): Cary Christian outscored its opponents 99-9 last year and is ranked second in the state among NCISAA 2-A teams.

Noelle Beasley, a North Greenville (S.C.) recruit, returns, as does Julia Manchester and Brae Buster to lead the Lady Knights scoring attack.

Senior Katrina Wertz is strong in goal.

Cary Academy (8-11): The Lady Chargers are ranked 10th among 3-A NCISAA schools entering the year.