CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Winner of two of the last three America East men’s soccer titles, including the 2012 crown, UMBC has been picked as the unanimous favorite in the 2013 preseason coaches’ poll, the conference office announced on Wednesday afternoon. The voting was conducted by the conference’s eight head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams
The Retrievers, who received the maximum 49 points, edged out the league’s 2011 champion, Stony Brook, which earned 40 points and one first-place tally.
University of Vermont, last year’s regular-season champion, came in third with 36 points, followed by University of Hartford in fourth with 26 points and University of New Hampshire in fifth with 25 points. University at Albany edged out Binghamton University for sixth by only one point, receiving 21 and 20 points respectively. New conference member UMass Lowell (7 points) rounded out the eight-team poll.
The 2013 regular season kicks off on Friday, Aug. 30 with all eight America East squads in action. Conference play begins on Friday, Oct. 4 while the six-team America East Championship begins with quarterfinal action on Nov. 9 and continues with the semifinal round on Nov. 13. The conference champion will be crowned on either Nov. 16 or 17 with the winner of the tournament receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship, where America East teams have advanced to the second round in nine of the last 12 seasons.
UMBC (11-4-7 overall, 4-2-1 America East) returns 22 letterwinners and eight starters from a squad that captured its second America East title in three seasons and reached the second round of the NCAA College Cup for the second time in that span as well a year ago. Ranked 29th in College Soccer News’ preseason poll, the Retrievers will be powered by America East Striker of the Year Pete Caringi III, a preseason All-American who ranked among the nation’s best with 14 goals and 32 points last season. Senior Phil Saunders, the MOP of last year’s America East Championship, will lead a UMBC defense that allowed a league-best 0.77 goals per game last year. and shut out 10 opponents. UMBC opens its season at home against Seattle on Aug. 30.
Stony Brook (11-6-1, 4-3-0) has 11 letterwinners and 16 newcomers to comprise its 2013 squad. The Seawolves, winners of two of the last four league crowns, finished third in the America East standings a year ago and advanced to the league’s semifinals for the fourth-straight year. The Seawolves led America East scoring 1.78 goals per game a year ago but will have to replace the bulk of its scoring output. Sophomore Alejandro Fritz, an America East All-Rookie choice last year, is the team’s top returning scorer after tallying 16 points (5G, 6A) last year. The Seawolves, who will face three NCAA tournament squads from 2012 this season, begin play vs. Sacred Heart on Aug. 30.
Vermont (8-5-5, 5-0-2) captured its first America East regular-season crown since 1989 and completed just the second unbeaten conference slate since 1997 last year. The Catamounts will look to avenge a loss in last year’s league semifinals and will rely heavily on reigning America East Goalkeeper of the Year Conor Leland to do so. Leland sported a 0.81 GAA and had six shutouts last year. The Catamounts open their season at home against Colgate in the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Windjammer Classic on Aug. 30.
Hartford (7-9-1, 1-5-1 ) missed the America East Championship for just the second time in six seasons last year and will look to get back to the tournament in 2013. The Hawks will feature a high-powered offense led by Javoni Simms, the 2012 America East Rookie of the Year, Anthony Santaga, a second-team all-league selection last season and David Bernhardsson, a first-team all-leaguer in 2011 who’s back from injury. Hartford starts play Aug. 30 vs. Holy Cross.
New Hampshire (7-7-6, 2-3-1) reached the league title game for the second time in three years in 2012. The Wildcats return 20 players from that squad, including Robbie Palumbo, the team’s leading point getter a year ago with eight (3G, 2A). Goalkeeper Travis Worra will pace the back line after recording a 0.81 GAA and eight shutouts last year. The Wildcats open their season at Bradley on Aug. 30.
Albany (6-11-1, 3-4-0) hopes to earn its third-straight America East Championship berth this season. The Great Danes have 13 letter winners and nine starters back for the 2013 campaign, including leading point-getter Anthony Rozzano (2G, 4A), an all-rookie choice last year. Albany opens at Cal St. Northridge on Aug. 30.
Binghamton (6-11-1, 2-5-0) reached the America East Championship for the ninth time in 10 years last season. The Bearcats, who have 11 letterwinners and six starters back from last year’s squad, including all-rookie choice Stefano Frantellizzi, open their season against Virginia Tech on Aug. 30.
UMass Lowell begins its first season at the Division I level with 10 returning letterwinners from a squad that set a school record with 15 wins last season at the Division II level. The River Hawks start their new era of Division I play on Aug. 30 at Stetson.