The 2011 America East men's soccer season gets underway this weekend with all eight teams in action, including four on Friday.
Preseason favorite Boston University kicks off its schedule by traveling to Holy Cross for a 7 p.m. contest. The Terriers, who led the conference with a plus-17 goal differential last year, took home the league's regular-season title. Thirteen letterwinners from that team will lead the pursuit for an eighth America East title and a berth in the NCAA College Cup, where America East teams have advanced to the second round in eight of the last 10 years.
Also in action Friday is Binghamton, which will travel to Bucknell, an NCAA team a year ago, for a 7 p.m. game. New Hampshire, which reached its first America East Championship game since 1994 last season, begins 2011 at home against Rhode Island at 7 p.m. The Wildcats allowed just 14 goals in 20 games last season. Vermont also kicks off play Friday as it travels to Central Connecticut State for a 7 p.m. kick off. Senior Nick O'Neill will lead the Catamounts after tallying six goals and three assists last year.
On Saturday, reigning league champion UMBC begins defense of its title. The Retrievers, who will play their first-ever game under the lights at Retriever Soccer Park (7 p.m.), welcome Mount St. Mary's for the occasion. UMBC lost just three starters from last year's team that made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament and will be led by senior midfielder Andrew Bulls, who has received preseason All-America recognition this year.
Elsewhere Saturday, three first-year coaches made their debuts. Trevor Gorman will lead Albany against Hartwick at 4 p.m. while Tom Poitras and Hartford host Fordham at 7 p.m. and Ryan Anatol will be on the sidelines for the first time as Stony Brook head coach against Lehigh at 7 p.m. in Bethlehem, Pa.
Vermont is the only team playing twice during opening weekend. It hosts Rhode Island Sunday at 12 p.m.
Follow America East on Twitter (@AmericaEast) for score updates this weekend and all season long.