BOSTON— Defending America East Champion University of Vermont is the preseason favorite to win the men's soccer conference again this year. Five different teams received first-place votes in balloting by the head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their teams. The Catamounts received four of a possible 11 first-place votes and 100 points overall to outdistance Hofstra University, which had two first-place votes and 96 points.
Defending regular-season champion Northeastern University was picked third with a first-place vote and 92 points. Towson University, the only team to appear in each of the last three America East Championships, was fourth with three first-place votes and 89 points. Boston University (82 points) was chosen fifth, followed by America East newcomer Stony Brook University (two first-place votes, 80 points) and Drexel University (79 points).
University of Hartford, which won the America East Championship in 1999, was chosen eighth with 69 points. University of New Hampshire (36), University at Albany (31), University of Maine (20) and University of Delaware (18) rounded out the poll.
The top six teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship with the winner of the tournament receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA College Cup.
The Catamounts, who were 6-2-1 in America East last fall and 13-8-1 overall, return senior forward Jamie Farrell (10 goals, 3 assists in 2000) and a defense led by 2000 America East Rookie of the Year Nick Azarian and all-rookie choice Keli Helgason, among 15 letter winners.
Hofstra was 6-2-1 in America East and 11-6-3 overall last year, dropping the championship game 2-1 in overtime at Vermont. Sophomore Rishi Matadeen and senior Luckisee Williams lead a defense which yielded 1.03 goals against per game last fall.
Northeastern head coach Ed Matz returns all players from a team that was 7-2 in America East last year and 10-8-0 overall. First-team all-conference midfielder Anders Hoyem, who tied for the America East lead with 12 assists, and senior forward Petter Starnas (10 goals, one assist) are among the Huskies' leaders.
Towson (6-2-1, 9-8-1) returns the duo of seniors Todd Lauber (13 goals, 12 assists), who led America East in scoring last season, and 2000 America East Player of the Year Alfonso DeMares (12 goals, 9 assists).
Boston University (4-4-1, 8-7-2), which won the America East Championship each year from 1992-96, returns junior goalkeeper Matt Smith, who posted an 8-5-5 record with an 0.98 goals against average in a conference-high 1834 minutes in 1999 but missed the first 10 games of 2000 with a broken hand.
Stony Brook was 12-4-2 overall last season. Sophomore goalkeeper Dan Ferrin, who registered a 0.81 goals against average with 10 shutouts last fall, was recently named an honorable mention all-america by collegesoccer.com.
Sophomores Dan Zajac and Jeff Parke anchor a young Drexel team, which narrowly missed the America East Championship a season ago with a 6-3-0 conference mark and a conference-best 10-5-1 overall record.
Hartford slipped to 2-4-3 in America East and 6-10-4 overall last season after going 6-1-2 in the conference and 11-8-2 overall in 1999. The bulk of the talent from the 1999 championship team returns, including first-team all-conference choices Asaf Lubezky (6 goals, 3 assists) and Milton Speid as well as goalkeeper Chris Doyle (1.40 GAA in 60 career starts).
New Hampshire (3-6-0, 6-10-0), newcomer Albany (8-7-3), Maine (0-8-1, 3-11-2) and Delaware (1-8-0, 3-15-0) all look to improve on last season's results.
2001 Preseason Poll
1. Vermont (4 first-place votes), 100 total votes
2. Hofstra (2), 96
3. Northeastern (1), 92
4. Towson (3), 89
5. Boston U., 82
6. Stony Brook (2), 80
7. Drexel, 79
8. Hartford, 69
9. New Hampshire, 36
10. Albany, 31
11. Maine, 20
12. Delaware, 18