Defending America East regular-season champion Boston University is the unanimous choice to win the conference's softball title this season according to voting by the head coaches. The Terriers received all seven first-place votes and 49 points overall. University of Maine was second with 38 points. Just a point separated Stony Brook University (29) and University of Hartford (28) in third and fourth place, respectively. University of Vermont (20), University at Albany (17) and Binghamton University (15) rounded out the poll.
The Terriers (34-17, 21-5 in America East in 2001), under second-year head coach Amy Hayes, must replace two-time America East Pitcher of the Year Robyn King, who graduated. Two-time all-conference pitcher Robyn Horrick, who is 29-17 in her first two seasons with 13 shutouts, is the heir apparent. Shortstop Kristin Knesek (.315 average in 2001) and 2001 Rookie of the Year Nicole Kurker (.313) return to lead the offense.
Third-year Maine head coach Deb Smith, a former America East Player of the Year, welcomes the return of three-time all-conference selections Leigh Ann Hlywak (.255), at third base, and Erica Sobel (.261), at shortstop.
America East newcomer Stony Brook qualified for the ECAC Championship a season ago. The Seawolves, who won just four games in 2000, posted a 21-23 record under rookie head coach Megan Bryant last season. Among the returnees for Bryant is senior pitcher Stephanie Poetzsch, who was 14-12 in 2001 with a 1.88 earned run average and 231 strikeouts in 181.2 innings.
Hartford enjoyed a breakout season last year, missing the America East Championship by a half-game in the standings. Senior Liz Nadeau is one of the top all-around players in the conference, batting .348 last season (second in America East) while compiling a 6-12 record with a 2.75 earned run average as a pitcher. She is joined in the circle by Andi Miller, who was 9-7 with a 1.80 earned run average and 117 strikeouts in 2001.
Vermont is hoping to qualify for the America East Championship for the first time since 1997. Head coach Pam Childs lost seven letterwinners, but does return 10 veterans including pitcher Angie Totaro, who was 7-10 with a 2.16 earned run average last spring.
Newcomer Albany is 49-34 in its first two seasons at the Division I level. Seventh-year head coach Chris Cannata returns 10 letter winners, including senior shortstop Valerie Terry, who batted .403 in 149 at bats last year.
Holly Brown begins her seventh season as head coach at Binghamton, where the Bearcats have posted 20-win campaigns in seven of the last eight years. Senior Margaret Yerdon returns after a redshirt season last year. Yerdon has not pitched since posting an 11-6 mark with a 1.57 earned run average as the New England Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2000.
The America East schedule will consist of 24 games with two doubleheaders vs. each of the other six teams in the conference. Conference play begins Friday, March 29.
The America East Championship, a four-team, double-elimination tournament, will be held May 9-11 at Post Field on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington, Vt.
2002 America East Conference Softball Coaches’ Poll
Team (first-place votes), Points
1. Boston University (7), 49
2. Maine, 38
3. Stony Brook, 29
4. Hartford, 28
5. Vermont, 20
6. Albany, 17
7. Binghamton, 15