BOSTON— For the second consecutive season, Boston University has been chosen to win the America East Women's Soccer Championship, according to a vote of the conference's coaches. The Terriers received four first-place votes (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team) and 60 points. University of Maine also garnered four first-place votes and finished a close second in the voting with 58 points. Complete Poll
University of New Hampshire (48 points) was third, followed by defending league champion Binghamton University (41) with one first-place vote in the fourth spot. Stony Brook University and University of Vermont were tied for fifth with 31 points apiece, while University of Hartford (28), UMBC (18) and University at Albany (9) rounded out the nine-team 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 (5-3-1 America East, 13-5-2 overall) returns all 11 starters and 17 letterwinners for 11th-year head coach Nancy Feldman. The two-time defending America East Defensive Player of the Year and first team all-conference selection, senior back Brittany McDonald, is back for the Terriers defense that allowed just 18 goals through 20 games played in 2004. Midfielder of the Year Brooke Bingham and forward Meghann Cook (nine goals, 10 assists, 28 points), both first team picks a season ago, also return for Boston University, as does junior goalie Stephanie Dreyer (0.79 goals against average). America East Offensive Player of the Year in 2003, senior Melissa Shulman (eight goals, 20 points) rounds out an experienced team that features eight seniors and four juniors.
After failing to make the America East Championship for its first 12 years in the league, Maine (6-3-0, 13-6-1) has now advanced to two-straight conference title games and appears to be ready to make a run at a third this season. Sixth-year head coach Scott Athlerley welcomes back nine starters and 16 letterwinners from a 2004 squad that was Co-Regular Season Champions, along with Binghamton and New Hampshire. Seniors Tanya Adorno (0.60 goals against average), Linda Consolante and Heather Hathorn (10 goals, nine assists, 29 points) will lead a Black Bear team that has a solid mix of veterans and youth, which is evidenced in the return of the 2004 America East Rookie of the Year Marie-Andree Canuel (11 goals, 24 points) as well.
New Hampshire (6-3-0, 11-8-2) welcomes back eight starters and 17 letterwinners for 11th-year head coach Mike Jackson. The Wildcats will have to make due without the services of 2004 America East Offensive Player of the Year Chiara Best (graduation), but a large recruiting class of 11 newcomers should help ease that burden. Sophomore Adriana Gonzalez-Medina (four goals, 11 points) is the leading scorer returning for the Wildcats.
Jeff Leightman, the 2004 America East Coach of the Year, hopes his Binghamton (6-3-0, 14-6-1) squad can repeat as America East Champions. The Bearcats return seven starters and 18 letterwinners from last year's title team and garnered one first-place vote for their potential. America East Championship Most Outstanding Performer and First Team All-Conference selection Meghan Taylor is back for her senior season as the Bearcats top defender, while Kim Povill (seven goals, 22 points) is coming off a remarkable freshman campaign.
In her 21st season at the helm of Stony Brook (4-4-1, 7-8-4), head coach Sue Ryan looks to lead her squad back to the conference championship, which it most recently competed in during the 2002 season. First Team All-Conference selection Cindy Bennett, who led the league in save percentage (.873) a season ago, is back in goal for her senior season with the Seawolves.
First-year head coach Kerry Dziczkaniec welcomes back 14 letterwinners to her Vermont (4-5-0, 9-9-1) team. Amy Cochran (13 goals, 31 points), the conference's leader in goals per game (0.68 gpg) in 2004, returns for her junior season with the Catamounts.
Hartford (4-4-1, 5-12-2) has appeared in the America East Championship eight-straight years and 10 times in the 11 years since the conference began sponsoring the sport in 1994. Second-year head coach John Natale returns 11 letterwinners and six starters from last year's team, including senior Erin Mucha (seven assists, 11 points).
After making the 2003 America East Championship in its first season in the conference, UMBC (3-6-0, 8-10-0) is looking to get back to the league tournament event again this season. Head coach Michelle Salmon welcomes back Jessica Young (six goals, four assists, 16 points) for her sophomore campaign.
Albany (0-9-0, 2-18-0) looks for continued improvement under third-year head coach Ken Banda. His record as a Division I women's coach is 128-56-11 despite the struggles of his first two seasons at Albany.