Four America East field hockey programs will begin 2012 as they ended 2011, in the national rankings. Boston University, University of New Hampshire, University at Albany and University of Maine, which all were ranked at the end of last season, all appear in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I Preseason Coaches Poll to start the season, which begins on Friday. The poll was announced Tuesday afternoon.
America East is one of just three conferences with at least four teams ranked in the top 25, joining the ACC and Big Ten. Last season, America East finished with the third highest conference RPI in the nation, trailing only the ACC and Big East.
Boston U., the top pick in the America East preseason coaches' poll, led the group at No. 14, while University of New Hampshire, the reigning conference champion, is 18th, followed by Albany in 19th. Maine, which equaled its program record for wins last season, is 22nd.
The Terriers return their top four scorers from last year’s squad, including Jacinda McLeod, the two-team America East Defensive Player of the Year. The Wildcats swept the America East regular-season and tournament titles for the first time in school history last year and will bring back 13 letterwinners from that team. The Great Danes return several key players from 2011, including goalkeeper Kristi Troch, the reigning two-time America East Goalkeeper of the Year, and All-American Corinne McConnville. The Black Bears welcome back 11 players from their 2011 team, which led the nation averaging 3.45 goals per game.
All four squads start their seasons this weekend. Boston U. opens at Delaware Friday, while Albany is at Rutgers and UNH hosts UMass. Maine hosts No. 17 Boston College at Saturday.