BOSTON ? The University at Albany, winners of three of the last four league crowns, and defending conference champion UMBC have each received a total of 32 points and sit tied atop the America East Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Great Danes received three first-place votes, while the Retrievers garnered two.
Stony Brook University was tabbed third with 22 points, while Binghamton University received one first-place vote to rank fourth. The University of Vermont and University of Hartford round out the six-team poll with 12 and seven 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 Men’s Lacrosse Championship.
In 2006, Albany (8-7, 3-2 America East in 2006) advanced to the America East title game for the fifth-straight season, falling to conference champ UMBC, 19-10. The Great Danes ranked third nationally in goals per game (11.73 gpg) a season ago and return a potent attack. Seventh-year head coach Scott Marr welcomes back the nation’s leading scorer Frank Resetarits (45 goals, 19 assists) and fellow America East All-Conference first teamer Brett Queener in net. First-team midfielder Jordan Levine (14 goals, 13 assists) and second-team selection Merrick Thomson (31 goals, 11 assists) are also critical returning pieces to the puzzle for Albany. Thomson and Resetarits are currently one-two among active NCAA Division I scorers (Thomson ? 175 points, Resetarits ? 161 points).
|
Rank |
Team (1st-Place Votes) |
Points |
|
t1. |
Albany (3) |
32 |
|
t1. |
UMBC (2) |
32 |
|
3. |
Stony Brook |
22 |
|
4. |
Binghamton (1) |
21 |
|
5. |
Vermont |
12 |
|
6. |
Hartford |
7 |
The 2006 America East Coach of the Year Don Zimmerman will look to guide the Retrievers (10-5, 5-0) to their second-straight conference title in 2007. Drew Westervelt, a two-time America East second-team pick, has been a consistent point-producer for the Retrievers. After a 50-point season in 2005, the third-highest ever for a UMBC sophomore, the Bel Air, Md. native tied his season high with 27 goals last year. Other notable returners for UMBC are attackman Andy Gallagher (24 goals), defensive midfielder Kelvin Moulden and the 2006 America East Rookie of the Year Jeremy Blevins in net. The Retrievers were ranked 11th nationally in the USILA’s 2007 Men’s Lacrosse Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Stony Brook (8-7, 4-1) earned the No. 2 seed in the 2006 America East Championship, but the Seawolves were upset by Empire State rival Albany, 14-13, in overtime of the semifinals of the league tournament. First-year head coach Rick Sowell inherits a trio of second-team all-conference selections in Rhys Duch, Chris Gignilliat and Bo Tripodi, the 2005 America East Rookie of the Year. The Seawolves open the 2007 campaign as they host defending national champion Virginia at LaValle Stadium on February 24.
In his sixth season at the helm of the Bearcats (7-8, 2-3), Ed Stephenson returns a young Binghamton squad that featured a conference-best four America East All-Rookie Team selections from a season ago. The Bearcats had an up-and-down season in 2005, including national ranking in both the USILA/STX
and Inside Lacrosse Top 20 Polls and an upset victory over No. 8 Towson 7-6 in double overtime on March 4, 2006. Matt McNamara, a two-time second-team all-conference selection, is the Bearcats top returner.
With nine wins last year Vermont (9-6, 1-4) won its most contests since 1997. First-year head coach Ryan Curtis will look to his 11 seniors to continue to turn things around for the Catamounts. All-New England selection Sean Layton, a second-team all-conference pick in 2006, will carry the load for UVM.
Head coach Peter Lawrence looks to get Hartford (3-12, 0-5) back on track as he enters his second season on the sideline with the Hawks. Hartford is in search of its first conference win since the 2003 season.
The America East Championship will be held May 3 and 5 with all rounds played at the No. 1 seed.