CAMBRIDGE, Mass. --The 2011 America East Men's Soccer Championship begins on Saturday with third-seeded Vermont hosting sixth-seeded Albany at 1 p.m. and fourth-seeded UMBC hosting fifth-seeded Hartford at 7 p.m. Championship Central has all the live coverage links.
UMBC (7-7-3 overall, 4-3-1 America East) has dropped four straight but is tournament tested. The Retrievers, last year's champion, are 3-1-1 in their last five America East Championship games. UMBC is led by the league's Goalkeeper of the Year Dan Louisignau and three other first-team all-league standouts, Andrew Bulls, Pete Caringi III and Liam Paddock.
Hartford (6-8-4, 3-2-1) is playing its best at the right time. The Hawks have won three straight, posting wins over UMBC, Binghamton and Stony Brook to close out the regular season. First-team all-conference forward David Bernhardsson leads the Hawks with 15 points in just 10 games. He scored and had an assist in a 3-1 win over the Retrievers on Oct. 22.
The two teams have met once previously in the tournament, playing to a 1-1 tie in 2007. UMBC advanced to the semifinals on penalty kicks.
Vermont (9-6-1, 4-2-1) went unbeaten in its last four games (3-0-1)
to tie Stony Brook for second place and earn the No. 3 seed. The
Catamounts, who lead the conference with a 0.99 team goals-against average, are led by first-team midfielder Yannick Lewis. Second-team forward Juan Peralta tied a conference record registering 10 assists this year.
Albany (5-9-3, 1-3-3) returns to the tournament after missing out last season. The Great Danes secured the final tournament spot with a 1-0
win over New Hampshire on Saturday. Quintel Gates scored in 70th minute
and Adrian Foncette, the America East Fans' Choice Player of the Year and second-team all-conference goalkeeper, made three saves to record his fourth shutout of the
year.
The Catamounts beat the Great Danes in their regular-season meeting, 3-1, on Oct. 26. D.J. Edler scored twice for Vermont. The two teams have met once previously in championship play, finishing in a scoreless tie in 2005 before Albany advanced on penalty kicks.
The teams
that advance will play in the semifinal round on Wednesday, Nov. 9 with
the Albany-Vermont winner playing at second-seeded Stony Brook and the
UMBC-Hartford winner traveling to Boston U. Both games will be at 7
p.m. The semifinal winners will meet for the America East title on
either Nov. 12 or 13.
Visit America East's Championship Central throughout the tournament for previews, links to in-game coverage and postgame reaction.
2011 America East Men's Soccer Championship
Quarterfinals - Saturday, November 5
No. 6 Albany at No. 3 Vermont, 1 p.m.
No. 5 Hartford at No. 4 UMBC, 7 p.m.
Semifinals - Wednesday, November 9
Vermont/Albany Winner at No. 2 Stony Brook, 7 p.m.
UMBC/Hartford Winner at No. 1 Boston U., 7 p.m.
Final - Saturday, November 12/Sunday, November 13
Semifinal Winners at Highest Remaining Seed, TBA