Three-time defending America East field hockey champion Northeastern University has been chosen to defend its conference title, according to a vote of the head 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 finished second in the regular-season last year, was second with 29 points. Complete Poll
Boston University, a four-time America East Champion, received 28 points to finish third. University of Maine, the conference championship runner-up the past two seasons, was voted fourth, while University at Albany and University of Vermont tied for fifth with 13 points. UMBC (7) 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 (6-0 America East, 17-6 overall), which has won nine America East Championships since 1990, welcomes back the 2003 America East Player of the Year in Mari Creatini, who led the conference and the nation in goals (29) and points (72) a year ago. The reigning Coach of the Year, Cheryl Murtagh, also returns three-time all-conference choice and the 2003 Championship Most Outstanding Player Liane Dixon, second-teamer Lauren Edelmeier at back and three all-rookie selections, Sarah Ekhoff, Natalie Singelais and Megan Troxel. Creatini, Singelais, redshirt freshman goalie Elizabeth Centofanti and incoming freshman Emily Skipp recently competed at the U.S. Field Hockey Association's "B" Camp.
New Hampshire (5-1, 10-11), which has appeared in five of the last six America East Championships and earned the conference crown in 1998, welcomes the return of first-team all-conference selection Katie White, who scored 21 goals and added two assists to finish second in America East in scoring (2.10 points per game). Senior captain Christine Buckley will once again mind the cage for the Wildcats, while classmate Brittany Schneider also returns at back, both second team all-conference picks in 2003. A duo of all-rookie performers in Caitlin Gillen and MacKenzie Stuart are back for their sophomore seasons as well.
After seeing its streak of 12-straight trips to the America East Championship snapped two years ago, Boston University (3-3, 9-11) returned to the conference tournament last season. This year's Terriers will feature 11 new faces to go along with returning all-rookie selections of goalie Erin Prediger and back Ashley Parker to make up a young team with plenty of potential for 24th-year head coach Sally Starr.
Maine (4-2, 15-6) reached the America East Championship for the third-straight year and advanced to the title game for the second consecutive season in 2003. If Black Bears hope to get back to the title game again this season, they will have to do with eight new faces (seven freshmen and one transfer) and without four all-conference selections from a year ago.
First-year head coach Phil Sykes takes over an Albany (2-4, 7-12) squad that returns two second team all-conference forwards in Lisa Burline and Alexis Johnson as well as goalie Kristina Maze, the 2003 Rookie of the Year.
Vermont (1-5, 2-17) welcomes back sophomore Elizabeth Berry, the team's leading scorer and an all-rookie selection from a year ago. Head coach Nicki Houghton returns for her seventh season at the helm of the Catamounts as well.
UMBC (0-6, 2-14) completed its first season of America East field hockey in 2003 and with 10 starters returning for head coach Kristy Hartman-Mumma the Retrievers look to be an improved team from a season ago.