CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Much was left to be decided heading into the final day of the America East women's soccer regular season and after Sunday's action the league's championship details are set. Boston University defeated Hartford to claim to its fifth straight conference regular-season title while New Hampshire and Binghamton both won to earn the final two spots and join Boston U., Hartford, Albany and Vermont in the 2011 America East Women's Soccer Championship.
The tournament begins Thursday (Oct. 27) with New Hampshire and Albany hosting quarterfinal contests. UNH, the No. 4 seed, will host No. 5 Binghamton at 1 p.m. while Albany, the No. 3 seed, takes on No. 6 Vermont at 2 p.m. The UNH-Binghamton winner will face No. 1 seed Boston U. in semifinal action on Sunday (Oct. 30) at 1 p.m. while the Albany-Vermont winner will take on No. 2 Hartford at 2 p.m. The 2011 America East women's soccer title will be decided on either Saturday, Nov. 5 or Sunday, Nov. 6 at the highest remaining seed.
Boston U. (16-2-1 overall, 8-0-0 America East, 24 points), the 16th-ranked team in the nation, got goals from Taylor Krebs, Jessica Luscinski and Krista Minto to win its 11th straight game and deal Hartford (13-1-3, 6-1-1, 19) its first loss of the season. The win sealed the Terriers' third perfect America East record in the last four years.
New Hampshire (5-11-2, 3-4-1, 10) earned its 11th straight trip to the America East Championship with a 2-0 win over Maine (5-9-1, 2-6-0, 6). Brooke Duchaney and Stephanie Gilkenson scored first-half goals for the Wildcats en route to ousting the Black Bears from the playoffs. Binghamton (6-9-1, 3-4-1, 10) got first-half scores from Mary DeWitte and Conor O'Brien to down UMBC (0-14-3, 0-6-2), 2-0, and will return to the tournament after missing out last season. The Wildcats won the regular-season meeting with the Bearcats on Oct. 16, 2-1.
Albany (7-9-1, 5-2-1, 16) rides a six-game unbeaten into the conference tournament after knocking Stony Brook (4-12-1, 2-5-1, 7) out of tournament contention with a 2-1 win on Long Island. Katie Grant and Chrissy Klepper scored 11 minutes apart in the second half to secure the win. Vermont (5-9-4, 3-4-1, 10) was idle Sunday but had already secured its first tournament bid since 2006. Albany downed Vermont, 2-1, during the regular season.
Visit America East's Championship Central throughout the tournament for previews, links to in-game coverage and postgame reaction.
2011 America East Women's Soccer Championship
Quarterfinals - Thursday, October 27
No. 5 Binghamton at No. 4 New Hampshire, 1 p.m.
No. 6 Vermont at No. 3 Albany, 2 p.m.
Semifinals - Sunday, October 30
New Hampshire/Binghamton winner at No. 1 Boston University, 1 p.m.
Albany/Vermont winner at No. 2 Hartford, 2 p.m.
Final - Saturday, November 5/Sunday, November 6
Semifinal Winners at Highest Remaining Seed, TBD