CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -
With the regular-season behind us and the postseason awards announced, it's
time to start the America East Women's Soccer Championship as six teams get set
to battle for an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
The action begins with two quarterfinal games on Thursday
afternoon as No. 3 seed New Hampshire hosts No. 6 Stony Brook and No. 4 Vermont
hosts No. 5 Albany, with both games starting at 2 p.m.
Remember to visit Championship
Central for the latest updates.
No. 6 Stony Brook at No. 3 New Hampshire, 2 p.m.
Live
Stats
| Video
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New Hampshire is looking for its first win in the
America East Championship sits advancing to the title game in 2007.
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The Wildcats have qualified for the last 12
America East Championships, making it every year since the tournament expanded
to six teams in 2001.
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New Hampshire lost to Stony Brook, 1-0, in
double overtime just a week ago in Durham.
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Raven Edwards scored the goal for Stony Brook
that clinched a playoff spot for the Seawolves.
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Before missing the America East Championship
last year, Stony Brook had advanced to four-straight semifinals.
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The two teams have met just twice in
championship play, with each team winning one game. New Hampshire won the last
meeting, 2-1, in the 2007 semifinals. Stony Brook won in the 2002 semifinal in
penalty kicks.
No. 5 Albany at No. 4 Vermont, 2 p.m.
Video
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Vermont and Albany meet in a rematch of last
year's semifinal thriller that saw the Great Danes beat the Catamounts, 2-1, in
the snow in Albany.
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Shayla Bergeron, an All-Conference First Team
selection this year, scored the game-winning goal.
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This is Vermont's sixth trip to the America East
Championship and the first time the Catamounts have made it in back-to-back
years since qualifying for four-straight years from 1995-98.
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Vermont beat Albany, 2-1, in the match-up
between the teams earlier this season, as Nicoleta Hardesty and Alexandra Dezenzo
both scored goals.
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Albany is 3-3-0 all-time in championship play
while Vermont is 0-5-1.