CAMBRIDGE, Mass.-- America East teams, most notably cross country and men's soccer, have made great strides recently in national and regional polls. America East In the Polls highlights the conference's place on the national scene periodically throughout the season.
The Binghamton and Albany men's soccer teams, ranked eighth and tenth in the NSCAA/adidas regional rankings this week, square off in an important America East match today in Albany at 3 p.m. The Bearcats (5-2-3 overall record, 0-0 America East record) most recently lost a one-goal game to nationally-ranked Maryland, while the upstart Great Danes (7-2-0, 1-0) showed others around the conference that they're not ones to take lightly by defeating Boston University, a 2007 NCAA at-large participant, at Nickerson Field, 3-0. Vermont (4-2-4, 1-0) and Hartford (5-3-2, 1-0) are both receiving votes in the regional rankings as well.
The Stony Brook women's cross country team soared from #30 to #12 in the national poll conducted by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA). The Seawolves, the defending America East Champions, also leapfrogged powerhouses Providence and Boston College to take over the top spot in the Northeast region. Also ranked in the regional poll is Vermont (12th) and New Hampshire (15th). On the men's side, New Hampshire, Stony Brook and Binghamton are bunched in the 12-14 slots in the Northeast.
The women's soccer regional coaches' poll continues to pick Boston University (7-5-1, 2-0) in the upper half of the top 10 in the region. This week, after a 1-1 tie at Dartmouth and a 4-0 victory over Vermont, the Terriers are ranked fourth in the Northeast. Up next for the defending league champion: a nationally-televised match on FOX Soccer Channel at the 5-5-1 Binghamton Bearcats Thursday at 8 p.m.
Field hockey began the America East schedule last week and Albany and Boston University are just two points apart with 26 and 24, respectively, in the National Field Hockey Coaches' Association (NFHCA) weekly poll. The Great Danes and Terriers, both beginning the season ranked in the top 20, are the fourth and sixth teams also receiving votes. The two teams will have to wait until October 25 for their regular season meeting.