Lucy Arps scored a goal and delivered two corner-kick assists in last November's Group 3 state final. Now the Penn-committed junior will lead Chatham's bid for a third state championship in four years when the season opens Monday, Aug. 24.

The Cougars captured Group 3 titles in 2023 and 2025, the latter a 3-2 double-overtime thriller over Shawnee on Nov. 23 at Franklin High School in Somerset. Arps' corner found Alex Donoghue for the winner in extra time, minutes after another Arps corner was headed home by Amanda Thornton to force overtime in the 73rd minute.

Chatham finished 19-5-1 last fall and completed what NJ.com called a "Triple Crown": a fifth straight Morris County Tournament title, a fourth consecutive North 2, Group 3 sectional crown and the state championship. Head coach Anthony Correale's squad was ranked No. 7 in NJ.com's final statewide Top 20.

But the Cougars lost serious firepower.

Donoghue, who led the team with 21 goals, graduated alongside fellow seniors Thornton (a Rutgers commit), Ecrin Mumcuoglu, Leah Tapper and Annie Irish.

NJ.com's Donovan Hugel wrote Aug. 20 in a 2026 season preview that Arps "will headline an offense that will be searching for an additional finisher up top."

Arps posted 16 goals and 18 assists as a sophomore. She returns alongside junior goalkeeper Charlotte Nelson, who made two saves in the penalty-kick shootout that clinched the sectional final over Cranford, plus juniors Grace Powers and Molly Haid.

The path won't be easy. Chatham competes in the NJAC-American division, which Hugel described as "a gauntlet and one of the toughest divisions to win in New Jersey." Morris Knolls, last year's North 1, Group 3 champion, Randolph and West Morris all return after deep playoff runs, and Roxbury joins the division in 2026.

Chatham's specific opening-day opponent has not been announced. Regular-season play across New Jersey begins Aug. 24.