American East Conference

University of Maine was third with 53 votes. Two votes separated University of New Hampshire (46), Northeastern University (45) and Stony Brook University (44). America East newcomer Binghamton University totaled 28 votes to finish seventh. University of Vermont (26) and University at Albany (10) rounded out the poll.

The top four 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 Terriers (10-0-1 in America East, 14-6-1 overall) won their second-straight America East Championship with a 2-0 win over Hartford last season. The Hawks had won three-straight conference titles and five in six years prior to Boston University's first crown in 2000.

Nancy Feldman, who has won America East Coach of the Year honors in each of the past two seasons, returns eight starters to a team that has posted a 24-0-1 mark in its last 25 regular-season conference games. Feldman has lost three of the conference's top players at each field position as back Megan Cross, midfielder Teresa Petruccelli and forward Nicole Soules, each a first-team all-conference choice, have graduated. However, there is plenty of talent as the Terriers target a third-straight trip to the College Cup. Suzanne Hudak, an all-conference honorable mention choice at midfield last season, moves back to join former all-rookie choice Lesley Garvey to stabilize the defense. First-team all-conference choice Allison Merkle, and honorable mention selection Rebecca Beyer, who led the team in scoring with nine goals and four assists for 22 points, anchor the midfield. Sophomore forward Melissa Shulman, a first-team all-conference choice last year, had six goals and two assists for 14 points. Junior Jessica Clinton (14-6-1, 1.21) was the first-team all-conference goalkeeper last season after setting a school record for wins.

Hartford (10-1-0, 15-6-0) has lost just two conference games, both to Boston University, in five seasons. Coach Eva Bergsten returns the reigning America East Player of the Year in senior midfielder Sandra Kayulu and the Rookie of the Year in forward Malin Engman, who had 10 goals and four assists for 24 points. In addition, three-time all-conference midfielder Katharina Lindner is back for her senior season while two-time all-conference back Cindy Walsh also returns. If that wasn't enough, junior forward Jeanette Akerlund, who led the team in scoring with 10 goals and six assists for 26 points, and senior midfielder Tini Lyng, each of whom received second-team honors last fall, are also back. The Hawks will have to find a goalkeeper as junior Anne-Lise Nilssen, who was 29-10-0 with a 0.93 goals against average in two seasons, has decided not to return.

Maine (4-5-2, 7-6-3), which has yet to make an appearance in the America East Championship in its 11 previous years in the conference, has its sights set on the tournament this season. Coach Scott Atherley returns nine starters, including second-team all-conference goalkeeper Naomi Welsh, who was 7-6-3 and led America East with a 0.93 goals against average. Sophomore back Linda Consolante was an first-team all-conference selection as a rookie last year.

New Hampshire (5-5-1, 6-11-3) returned to the America East Championship last fall after a two-year absence. Coach Mike Jackson's team returns sophomore Chiara Best, a second-team all-conference choice, who led the Wildcats in scoring with eight goals and five assists for 21 points.

Northeastern (3-5-3, 7-6-4) coach Ed Matz, who directs both the men's and women's programs, had an up-and-down season last year. While his men's team advanced to the America East Championship game, his women's team suffered numerous injuries before falling out of contention for a conference tournament berth. Sophomore Liz Dyjak, who scored five goals and added six assists as a rookie, was a second-team all-conference choice last year.

Stony Brook (4-6-1, 6-11-2) fell a win shy of the America East Championship in its first season in the conference. Coach Susan Ryan looks to an experienced squad, including second-team all-conference back Brittany Norwood, in the Seawolves quest for a championship bid this year.

Binghamton coach Jeff Leightman hopes the Bearcats have as much success in America East as they had as a Division I independent last season when they were 12-5-2. Junior Tracy Kasmarcik had 15 goals and seven assists for 37 points last season.

Vermont (4-7-0, 5-11-1) coach Jodi Kenyon returns six starters, including all-rookie selection Nikkie Hessney, the team's leading returning scorer after notching three goals with five assists for 11 points last season.

Albany (0-10-1, 1-16-1) coach Joanna Tomasino adds six newcomers for the Great Danes' second season in America East.