CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Winner of three of the last five America East field hockey titles, including the 2012 crown, University at Albany has been picked as the favorite in the 2013 preseason coaches’ poll, the conference office announced on Thursday afternoon. The voting was conducted by the conference’s six head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
The Great Danes garnered 24 points and four out of five possible first-place votes to be tabbed the preseason favorite. University of New Hampshire, last year’s regular-season champion, followed in second place, earning 21 points and one first-place tally.
University of Maine came in third with 18 points and one first-place vote, followed by associate member Fairfield University in fourth with 12 points. New conference member UMass Lowell (8 points) and University of Vermont (7) rounded out the six-team poll.
The 2013 regular season kicks off on Friday, Aug. 30 with four America East squads in action. Conference play begins on Friday, Sept. 28 while the four-team America East Championship will take place on Nov. 7 and 9 at the highest remaining seed. The conference champion receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Field Hockey Championship, where America East teams 10 all-time wins.
Albany (13-8 overall, 3-2 America East) returns 12 letterwinners and seven starters from a squad that captured its third America East title in five seasons last year. The Great Danes, who finished 2012 ranked 17th nationally, led America East with a 1.17 team goals-against average and will be led last by year’s Co-Offensive Player of the Year and the Most Outstanding Player of the America East Championship, Daphne Voormolen, who tied for second among league leaders with 14 goals last year. Albany will face five teams that reached the NCAA tournament in 2012 this season and opens its schedule Aug. 30 at Bryant.
New Hampshire (12-8, 5-0) has captured at least a share of the America East regular-season title in three straight seasons and aims for its second league title in three years this season. The Wildcats, who finished 2012 ranked 23rd, led America East averaging 2.95 goals per game last year and returns eight of their top nine scorers from that team, including last year’s America East Defensive Player of the Year, Megan Bozek, who racked up 24 points on 10 goals and four assists. UNH opens its season against Maryland, one of six NCAA tournament teams it will face, on Aug. 31.
Maine (10-10, 2-3) achieved double-digit wins for the fourth-straight year in 2012 and is aiming for its first-ever America East title in 2013. The Black Bears return their top four scorers from that squad, including America East Co-Offensive Player of the Year Annabelle Hamilton (9G, 6A) and Co-Rookie of the Year Cassidy Svetek (9G). Maine, which finished last season ranked 23rd nationally, starts its campaign on Aug. 30 against UMass, one of three NCAA tournament squads it will face this season.
Fairfield (10-10, 1-4) won its most games since joining America East as an associate member in 2007 and also reached the league championship for the first time in 2012. The Stags have 14 letterwinners and eight starters back for 2013, including first-team all-conference standout Felicitas Heinen, who led America East with 38 points last season. Fairfield begins its season against Drexel on Aug. 30 and will face three NCAA tourney squads this year.
UMass Lowell begins its first season of Division I play in 2013 after becoming a Division II power, winning the 2005 and 2010 national titles and reaching six straight national championship games. The River Hawks will have 15 players back from a team that went 19-4 last season, including leading scorer Melissa Effertz (14G, 11A). UMass Lowell begins play Sept. 2 vs. Northwestern.
Vermont (2-16, 0-5) looks to get back to the America East Championship for the first time since 2007 this season. The Catamounts have 16 players back from last year second-leading scorer Kelsey Bonner, an America East All-Rookie choice last year. UVM starts play against Boston College on Aug. 30.