Defending America East champion Boston University has been chosen to repeat as conference champion in a vote of the women's lacrosse coaches. The Terriers received four of a possible six first-place votes and 34 points overall. University of New Hampshire, the regular-season champion last year, was chosen second with two first-place votes and 32 points overall.
University at Albany received 21 points to finish third. University of Vermont (19), Stony Brook University (12) and Binghamton University (8) rounded out the poll.
The top four teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship May 1-3 at the home field of the No. 1 seed. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
Boston University (8-11, 3-1 America East) returns offensive punch in junior attack Kelly Trahon, a first-team all-conference selection last season, and sophomore attack Alyssa Trudel, a second-team choice. Trudel is the second-leading returning scorer after scoring 33 goals and adding 20 assists in 17 games. Trahon scored 15 goals and added 22 assists a season ago. Second-team all-conference defenders Liz Eberhart and Sasha Lang also return. Second-year head coach Liza Shoemaker must replace four-time all-conference choice Kristin Abruzzese and two-time all-conference selection Ericka Hergenroeder in the midfield, as well as three-time all-conference defender Gabby Juocys and three-time all-conference goalkeeper Brooke Barrett (8-10, 9.82, .497).
New Hampshire (12-6, 4-0) boasts the reigning America East Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in senior midfielder Jessie Groszkowski and sophomore attack Jess Burnap. Groszkowski led America East in both goals and scoring and set school records in both categories with 60 goals and 8 assists for 68 points in 18 games (3.78 points per game). Burnap scored 28 goals and added 7 assists a season ago. Senior defender Jen Smith, a second-team all-conference choice in 2002, and senior Danielle Martin, a first-team selection after finishing second in the nation in goal against average (7.02), anchor the defense. Reigning America East Coach of the Year Sandy Bridgeman hopes to return the Wildcats to the national poll after being ranked in the Top 20 last season for the first time since 1992.
Albany (6-10, 2-2) returns first-team all-conference attack Andrea Esposito, who scored 21 goals and added a like number of assists last season. Second-team all-conference midfielders Maria Ferrucci, who led the Great Danes in scoring (35 goals, 10 assists) and led America East with 56 ground balls, and Theresa Masse are also back for head coach Dennis Short.
Vermont (7-8, 1-3) looks to return to the America East Championship, after making its first appearance in the tournament since 1996 last season. Junior midfielder Molly Sheehan, who scored 22 goals and had 3 assists, and sophomore attack Mackenzie Dean, who had 14 goals and 9 assists, were both second-team all-conference choices last season. Catamount head coach Kissy Rowley must replace graduated Courtney LaMere, who led the team in scoring in each of the last four years. LaMere was a first-team all-conference selection last season after scoring 38 goals and adding 12 assists in 15 games.
Stony Brook begins its first season of play. Head coach Danie Caro was hired on July 1, 2001 and has been recruiting players for the program since that time.
Binghamton (1-11, 0-4) enters its second season as a varsity program. Sophomore midfielder Erin Wall was an all-rookie selection a year ago. Head coach Susan Frost is in her second season guiding the Bearcats.