BOSTON ? For the second time in as many seasons, Boston University is the unanimous preseason favorite to win the America East Field Hockey Championship, according to a vote of the conference's head coaches. The Terriers received all five possible first-place votes (coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team) and 25 points overall, ahead University of Maine (18 points), which had one first-place vote to its credit.
Complete Poll
University at Albany (15) and University of New Hampshire tied for third in the preseason rankings, while University of Vermont (12) and UMBC (5) round out the six-team poll.
The top four teams in the league will advance to the America East Championship with the winner of the tournament receiving the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Terriers (4-1 America East, 16-6 overall in 2005) won their fifth America East crown in 2005 and their first since 2000. Entering her 26th season, Boston University head coach Sally Starr returns 17 letterwinners and nine starters from last year's squad. Junior forward Sarah Shute, the 2005 America East Offensive Player of the Year, will lead the Terriers offense, while sophomore midfielder Holly Wiles, the 2005 America East Rookie of the Year, will also be an integral piece for Boston U. Senior goalkeeper Erin Prediger and junior Pam Spuehler, both first-team all-conference picks a season ago, will play key roles for the Terriers, who were slated 17th in the 2006 STX/NFHCA Division I Preseason Poll.
Interim head coach Andrea Thebarge enters her first season in the collegiate head coaching ranks with a Maine (4-1, 13-7) squad that has been picked to finish second in America East. The Black Bears won their first-ever regular-season title a season ago, as they shared the honor with Boston University. Maine welcomes back 15 letterwinners and seven starters, including 2005 second-team all-conference selections Kim MacDonald and Joanna Fernandes.
Albany (3-2, 9-9) is coming off their first-ever berth to the America East Championship and the Great Danes return eight starters from that squad. Most notably, third-year head coach Phil Sykes' squad will feature all-conference second-teamers Arlette Westdorp and Kristen Holder. Westdorp, who was also named to the all-rookie team, tallied 14 assists and finished fifth in the nation with a 0.78 average.
After failing to make the America East Championship in 2005 for the first time since 2001, New Hampshire (2-3, 7-12) 16th-year head coach Robin Balducci is poised to return her squad to the conference tournament. Second-team all-conference and all-rookie pick Brittany Jacobs is back for her sophomore season and will be looked upon to anchor the Wildcats' defensive unit.
Coming off their first trip to the league tournament in three seasons, Vermont (2-3, 6-12) welcomes back first-team all-conference selection Danielle Collins, who will be looked upon to lead the Catamounts. Ninth-year head coach Nicki Houghton ushers in eight freshmen to go along with a young squad that features just three seniors.
Entering their fourth season in the America East, UMBC (0-6, 3-13) is still in search of its first conference victory. The Retrievers, under first-year head coach Lauren Fuchs, return first-team all-conference selection Julie Moore and second-teamer Kristi Troster, the team's returning leading scorer.