Defending America East regular season champion University at Albany has been chosen by a vote of the men's lacrosse coaches as the preseason favorite to win the conference this season. The Great Danes received five of a possible six first-place votes and 35 points overall. Stony Brook University, which defeated Albany, 8-6, in the America East Championship last spring and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, was chosen second with 24 points.
Quinnipiac University received a first-place vote and 22 points overall to finish third. University of Vermont (22), University of Hartford (14) and Binghamton University (10) rounded out the poll.
The top four teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship April 30 and May 3, with the winner of the tournament receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
Albany (9-7 overall, 5-0 America East) returns America East Rookie of the Year and second-team all-conference goalkeeper Kevin Rae, who was 9-7 with an 8.42 goals against average and a conference-leading .630 save percentage last season. Sophomore attackman Luke Daquino is the top returning scorer in America East after scoring 28 goals and adding 27 assists for 55 points in 16 games a season ago (3.44 per game). Daquino and senior midfielder Jon Smith were both second-team all-conference choices last year for head coach Scott Marr, who was the America East Coach of the Year in 2002.
Stony Brook (10-7, 3-2) surrendered 8.16 goals per game last year, second in America East. The Seawolves' defense should be strong again this season with the return of senior Eric Hatkewitz, a first-team all-conference choice, and sophomore Kyle Pearl, a second-team all-conference selection.
Quinnipiac (6-7, 2-3) scored 10.38 goals per game last season but must replace graduated Mike Baglio (40 goals) and Joe Baglio (22 goals). Senior John Giordano (19 goals, 14 assists) looks to pick up the offensive slack for the Bobcats while senior T.J. Barnett (6-7, 8.48, .573) anchors the defense.
Vermont (5-9, 1-4) will be looking to make the America East Championship after missing the field in 2002. Each of the top seven scorers return from a season ago, including junior attackman Phil McKnight (32 goals, 6 assists), a second-team all-conference selection, and classmate Mark Prior (25 goals, 5 assists).
Hartford (9-7, 4-1), which has qualified for two of the three previous America East Championships, must replace graduated America East Player of the Year Brian LeMastro, who led the conference in scoring with 50 goals and 27 assists for 77 points. In addition, all-conference midfielder Tyler Francey and two-time all-conference defender Tony Senia have graduated. Senior Travis Eckler, a second-team all-conference choice in 2002, is second among returning scorers in America East after registering 29 goals and 25 assists last year. Senior Rorke Greene (9-7, 6.67, .603) and classmate Eugene Fusco anchor the Hawks' defense.
Binghamton (1-8, 0-5) begins its second year as a varsity program and head coach Ed Stephenson has signed 24 newcomers, including five high school all-americans. The Bearcats return just four players from last season's inaugural team.