Defending America East champion Northeastern University is the preseason favorite to win the men's soccer conference title this year, according to a vote of the conference's coaches.The Huskies received eight of a possible nine first-place votes (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team) and 80 points overall to outdistance Boston University, which had one first-place vote and 66 points.
A total of three votes separated University of New Hampshire, which received a first-place vote and had 56 points, University of Vermont (55) and University of Hartford (54). America East newcomer UMBC was chosen sixth with 45 points, followed by University at Albany (37), Binghamton University (25), Stony Brook University (17) and University of Maine (13).
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.
Northeastern is looking for its third America East regular-season title in the last four years, and its second-straight NCAA Championship bid. Head coach Ed Matz returns 10 starters from a team that was 6-2-0 in America East last season and 12-6-2 overall. Atha Kirkopoulos, the 2002 America East Offensive Player of the Year and Championship Most Outstanding Player, returns after posting nine goals and 10 assists. Second-team all-conference choice Oumar Thiam, Michael Cipriano, who scored six goals and added six assists, and Sergio Saccoccio, the America East Rookie of the Year and a second-team all-conference choice, also return. Saccoccio started all 22 games and posted a 1.29 goals against average.
Boston University (3-3-1 America East, 8-6-4 overall) returns eight starters and 16 letterwinners. First-team all-conference choice Andrew Dorman (six goals, 10 assists) and second-team selection Erik Evjen are the top returnees for head coach Neil Roberts.
New Hampshire (4-2-2, 10-5-2) returns eight starters including three all-conference choices. Brendan Hankard (five goals, four assists) was a first-team selection a season ago while Logan Lee (nine goals, two assists) and Josh Hareld (one goal, five assists) were second-team picks. Rob Thompson's team lost leading scorer Nicola Chicco (nine goals, five assists), who will forego his final season after signing a professional contract with Triestina of Serie B of the Italian League.
Vermont (5-2-1, 11-7-1) advanced to the championship game last year for the second time in the last three seasons and returns two of its top three scorers in Tony Anderson (seven goals, six assists) and second-team all-conference choice Ethan Hutchins (five goals, four assists).
Hartford (5-3-0, 7-11-0) returns seven starters including first-team all-conference choice Alon Lubezky (14 goals, two assists), who has led America East in scoring in each of the last two seasons. Head coach Jim Evans has guided the Hawks to America East Championship appearances in three of the last four seasons.
UMBC, which posted an 11-6-3 record last season and an 8-1-1 mark in the Northeast Conference, begins its first season in America East with nine returning starters. Derek McElligott (12 goals, four assists) returns up front. Captain Justin Nall returns at back, leading a defense which posted 12 shutouts a year ago for head coach Pete Caringi.
Albany (9-6-2, 4-2-2) head coach Johan Aarnio returns America East Goalkeeper of the Year Bouna Coundol and second-team all-conference selection Rodrigo Marion.
Binghamton (6-11-1, 2-6-0) all-conference chocies Graham Munro and Stephan Bruce scored four and three goals, respectively last season. Head coach Paul Marco begins his second season with the Bearcats.
Stony Brook (3-13-1, 2-5-0) head coach Scott Dean added 17 newcomers last season and another seven this year.
Maine (3-11-2, 1-7-0) returns nine starters including second-team all-conference pick Daniel Florez (two goals, one assist). Head coach Travers Evans also signed four newcomers to the program.