CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The America East Conference office released its 2011-12 championship schedule on Wednesday, July 27, highlighted by the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship held at University of Hartford’s Chase Family Arena on March 1-4. The league will host championship events in 20 sports with 12 America East champions receiving automatic berths into the NCAA Tournament.
The men’s and women’s basketball championships will be held in a combined format for the third straight year with first-round, quarterfinal and semifinal action taking place in West Hartford, Conn. once again. The title games will both be held the following week at the site of the highest remaining seeds. The men’s championship game will be on Saturday, March 10, with the women’s title tilt to be announced at a later date.
University at Albany will host the first championship of the year when all 18 America East men's and women's cross country teams converge on the Capital Region on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Both men’s and women’s soccer tournaments, featuring six-team fields, are held at the highest seeds in each round. The women’s championship kicks off with quarterfinals on Thursday, Oct. 27 and continues with the semifinals on Sunday, Oct. 30 and the final the following weekend. The men’s championship begins on Saturday, November 5 with the quarterfinals, while the semifinal round will be on Wednesday, November 9. The champion will be crowned that weekend, on either Nov. 12 or 13.
The field hockey semifinals and finals will be held at the highest seed’s artificial turf field on Friday, November 4 and Sunday, November 6, while the volleyball tournament will be held at the top seed’s gym on November 18-19 or 19-20. Both championships include the top four teams from the regular season.
Boston University will once again host the indoor track and field championship on Feb. 17 and 18 at its Track & Tennis Center on campus. After a year absence, the swimming and diving championship will return to Boston U. and take place on Feb. 23-26 at the Boston U. Aquatic Center.
The men’s lacrosse championship is slated for Wednesday, May 2 and Saturday, May 5 with each semifinal round, as well as the final, to be held on the highest remaining seed’s field. The women’s lacrosse tournament will also be held that week, on Thursday and Saturday at the highest seed's stadium. Both tournaments will feature the top four teams from the regular season.
The conference will once again host the men’s and women’s tennis championship event at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. on April 27-29. The following weekend (May 5-6), the outdoor track & field meet will be held at University of Maine.
The softball championship, a four-team, double-elimination tournament, will be on the highest seed’s diamond May 10-12, while the baseball championship will be held May 23-25 and 26 if necessary in the same format.
Select championship dates are still subject to change to accommodate television. Please visit www.AmericaEast.com for the latest information on championship schedules and coverage.
About the America East Conference: Into its fourth decade of operation, America East has evolved into one of the most comprehensive NCAA Division I conferences with a commitment to broad-based, competitive athletics programs, complementing the academic integrity and missions of the member institutions. Progressive in its approach to its more than 3,400 student-athletes, America East recognizes champions in each of its 20 sports. America East also conducts the nation’s most comprehensive academic recognition program for student-athletes.
With a geographic footprint covering the Mid-Atlantic to Northeast regions of the United States, America East strives to develop champions in academics, athletics and leadership at its nine member institutions: University at Albany, Binghamton University, Boston University, University of Hartford, University of Maine, UMBC, University of New Hampshire, Stony Brook University and University of Vermont.