Two-time defending America East field hockey champion Northeastern University has been chosen to defend its conference title, according to a vote of the conference's coaches. The Huskies received each of the possible six first-place votes (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team) and 36 points overall. University of New Hampshire, which tied for the conference regular-season crown last season, was second with 28 points.
University of Maine received 26 points to finish third. Boston University, which has won four America East Championships, received a first-place vote and totaled 24 points to finish fourth. University of Vermont, which last fall made its first appearance in the America East Championship since 1991, was chosen fifth with 16 votes. University at Albany (11) and UMBC (6) 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 Championship.
Northeastern (4-1 America East, 18-5 overall), which has won eight America East Championships since 1990, advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship last year before dropping a decision in penalty strokes for the right to advance to the final four. The Huskies return two-time all-conference choice Liane Dixon, who led the Huskies in scoring last year with 17 goals and three assists. Mari Creatini (14 goals, eight assists) and second-team all-conference choice Sara Webber also return for head coach Cheryl Murtagh. Sophomore Jay Quinn and incoming freshman Jennifer Blewett recently competed at the U.S. Field Hockey Association's "B" Camp.
New Hampshire (4-1, 12-8), which has appeared in four of the last five America East Championships and earned the conference crown in 1998, welcomes the return of first-team all-conference selection Jen Stamp, who scored 12 goals and added eight assists to finish fourth in America East in scoring. America East Rookie of the Year Katie White (five goals) also returns for head coach Robin Balducci.
Maine (3-2, 16-3) reached the America East Championship for the second-straight year and advanced to the title game for the first time in school history. First-team all-conference goalkeeper Jaye Lance (11-4, 1.32 goals against average) is the top returnee for America East Coach of the Year Terry Kix.
Boston University (2-3, 11-10) saw its streak of 12-straight trips to the America East Championship end last season. However, the Terriers are the only team with more than one first-team all-conference selection returning as both Dalinda Banuelos (10 goals, four assists) and Celeste Hubbard (11 goals, five assists) are back. Sally Starr's team also returns second-team choices Whitney Peabody and Kara Rossi.
Vermont (2-3, 7-13) looks to return to the America East Championship on the heels of last season's success. Second-team all-conference choice Stephanie Shield, Shanon Strenkert (three goals in 2002) and former America East Rookie of the Year Whitney Gage are the top returnees for head coach Nicki Houghton.
Albany (0-5, 5-12) second-team all-conference choice Lisa Burline ranked among the conference leaders in scoring with six goals and three assists for 15 points last season.
UMBC was 6-10 overall last season, 5-7 in the Northeast Conference. The Retrievers debut in America East this season. Junior back Cecile Banas was one of two Retrievers to earn All-Northeast Conference honors last season, the first time a UMBC player had been such honored. Head coach Kristy Hartman leads the fourth-year Division I program.