Defending America East women's soccer champion Boston University is the choice to win the conference according to a vote of the coaches. The Terriers received all nine possible first-place votes (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team) and 81 points. University of Maine, with a first-place vote and 67 points, was chosen second.
Complete Poll
University of New Hampshire (65 points) was third, followed by University of Hartford (54) and Northeastern University (51). One vote separated Stony Brook University (37) from UMBC (36). Binghamton University (30), University of Vermont (20) and University at Albany (9) rounded out the poll.
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.
Boston University was 7-1-1 in America East and 12-6-5 overall last season. The Terriers won their third America East Championship in four years with a penalty kick decision over Maine. Offensive Player of the Year Melissa Shulman, who had 11 goals and six assists in 23 games, Defensive Player of the Year Brittany McDonald, and first-team all-conference midfielder Brooke Bingham all return for their junior seasons.
Maine (6-2-1, 13-3-3) made its first appearance in the America East Championship last year. Senior back Allison Kelly, a first-team all-conference choice, and goalkeeper Tanya Adorno, who ranked 20th in the nation with a 0.71 goals against average, return to lead the defense. The Black Bears ranked 11th in the nation last season with a 0.65 goals against average.
New Hampshire (5-2-2, 8-9-4) made its third-straight appearance in the America East Championship last season. The Wildcats will again be led by the one-two punch of first-team all-conference choice Chiara Best (12 goals, 6 assists in 21 games) and Jackie Wishoski, who led America East and was 20th nationally in both goals (0.86, 18 in 21 games) and scoring (1.95, 41 in 21 games).
Hartford (6-2-1, 7-10-3) has appeared in the America East Championship seven-straight years and nine times in the 10 years since the conference began sponsoring the sport in 1994. John Natale, a former assistant at Hartford who most recently was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Charge and Boston Breakers of the WUSA, begins his first season as head coach.
Northeastern (5-4-0, 1-8-0) continues its rise under head coach Ed Matz, who as Director of Soccer also serves as head coach of the Huskies' men's program. The Huskies have reached the America East Championship in each of the last two seasons after posting just two wins in conference games in the three years prior to the arrival of Matz. Senior Liz Dyjak, a first-team all-conference midfielder, and 2003 America East Rookie of the Year Kristin Kowalik, who had 11 goals and four assists in 19 games, return.
Stony Brook (3-6-0, 7-11-1) looks to return to the America East Championship after a one-year absence. Second-team all-conference midfielder Danielle Lewis returns for the Seawolves.
UMBC (4-4-1, 7-8-1) made its first America East Championship appearance in its first season in the conference. Top returnees include Mary Hearin, a second-team all-conference choice at back as a rookie.
Binghamton (3-4-2, 9-8-2) has narrowly missed the America East Championship in each of the last two seasons. Senior back Tatiana Mathelier is among the top returnees.
Vermont (1-6-2, 5-9-4) looks to new head coach Kerry Driczkaniec to lead the Catamounts back to the America East Championship for the first time since 1998.
Albany (0-9-0, 1-18-1) second-year head coach Ken Banda looks for continued improvement with the Great Danes. His record as a Division I women's coach is 126-38-11 despite the struggles of his first season at Albany.