Boston University has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2005 America East Championship. The Terriers received all five possible first place votes and 25 points overall (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team) for a decisive lead over second ranked University of Maine with 20 points. Complete Poll
University of New Hampshire, with a fourth-place post-season finish last year, received 17 votes to finish third. University of Albany, which finished tied for fourth in the conference standings last season, received 12 points for an expected repeat fourth-place finish. University of Vermont and UMBC rounded out the final two spots of the poll with 11 and five points, respectively.
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.
Boston University (6-0 America East, 13-7 overall) returns nine starters from last season including America East Rookie of the Year Pam Spuehler. She also finished fourth on the team with seven goals and one assist for 15 points. America East Coach of the Year, Sally Starr, enters her 25th season at the helm of Terriers with 2004 all-conference selection Colleen McClay and all-rookie selection Sarah Hudak. Erin Prediger will also be a crucial part of the Terriers backfield after posting an impressive .806 save percentage last season.
Maine (4-2 America East, 12-7 overall) returns three of their top five scorers from last season in Kasey Spencer (eight goals, 16 points), Meagan Connolly (five goals, 15 points), a 2004 America East second team selection, and Shaunessy Saucier (five goals, 15 points). The Black Bears will add 10 new faces to the roster this season to round out the line up of 11 returning letterwinners.
New Hampshire (2-4, 4-16) has advanced to the America East Championship each of the past three seasons and to the post-season in 12 of 14 years under head coach Robin Balducci. This season coach Balducci welcomes back two senior captains, Katilyn Skelley and Katie White. Eight new players will join the Wildcats, including Meredith Stuart, sister of junior Mackenzie Stuart.
Albany (2-4, 7-11) second-year head coach Phil Sykes believes the seven newcomers to this year's team will make an immediate impact. Also impacting the Great Danes will be senior captain Tina Bryson, an America East first-team selection last season and the team's returning high scorer. Bryson will lead the team with help from fellow seniors Brooke Barton and Shelley Gebhardt.
Vermont (2-4, 3-15) will return nine starters, with Marrie-Beth Maynard and Ariel Eber both garnering America East first team selections last season. The Catamounts will also look for leadership from Merrie-Beth Maynard, Emily Fitzgerald and Nikki Desch this fall. Another player to look for this season is sophomore Danielle Collins. She led the Catamounts in scoring and was selected to the all-rookie squad as well.
UMBC (0-6, 4-13) enters its third season of America East field hockey under head coach Kristy Hartman-Mumma. The Retrievers will look to junior forward Julie Moore, a second team all-conference pick last season and the team's high scorer.