Five high school girls’ lacrosse programs to watch this season (last year’s final record listed):

¦ Acton-Boxborough (14-3-1): Sophomore Emma Kearney fired in 60 goals her freshman year. Junior Julia Neyland (46 tallies last season) is a threat too. A-B already owns a 10-7 win over Dual County League rival Concord-Carlisle.

¦ Dover-Sherborn (16-5-1): The Raiders are led by a junior core fronted by Emma White, who moves up to the midfield after scoring 20 goals from the back last season. Senior captain Lizzie Simms anchors a strong defense.

¦ Franklin (15-5): The Panthers once again are the Hockomock League favorite. Senior Julia Jette (38 goals, 36 assists last season) is a four-year varsity player. Middie Kenzie Pleshaw and defender Sam Jones are also back from a team that advanced to the Division 1 East semifinals last year.

¦ Needham (21-2): The Rockets have been eliminated in the postseason by Notre Dame or Westwood each of the last 10 seasons. But a strong trio of Division 1 recruits — Sarah Conley (Richmond), Kailey Conry (BU), and Ally Hickey (Lafayette) — hopes to put Beth O’Brien’s group over the hump in the Division 1 South bracket.

¦ Wellesley (17-2-1): The Raiders reached the Division 1 South semifinal in coach Michelle Cook’s first season before falling to Westwood. Leading scorer Sophie Vernon (57 goals, 34 assists) is back.