CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Reigning America East women’s lacrosse champion Stony Brook University was selected to repeat in 2014 in the preseason coaches’ poll. The Seawolves received four first-place votes and 24 points in a vote of the league’s six head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team.
The University at Albany, which lost to the Seawolves in the 2013 America East title game, was picked second with 22 points. UMBC and the University of New Hampshire tied for third with 14 points apiece. University of Vermont (11) and Binghamton University (5) rounded out the poll.
The top-four teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship. The winner of the tournament will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship, in which the league champion has advanced to the quarterfinal round twice since 2008. The league tournament, slated for May 2 and 4, will be hosted by the top seed
Stony Brook Seawolves (17-3, 6-0 AE)
• Tabbed preseason favorite after winning first America East tournament title and first NCAA tournament game in 2013.
• Ranked 14th in the Brine Media Preseason Poll and 12th in the IWLCA Preseason Poll, the highest preseason ranking in program history.
• Return seven starters, including preseason All-American goalkeeper Frankie Caridi, who had the nation’s best save percentage (.530) and goals against average (5.71) last year.
• Three of the teams top five scorers are back from a squad that set the single season school record for goals, netting 298.
• The Seawolves host Bucknell on Feb. 15 to open the season.
Albany Great Danes (12-2, 5-1 AE)
• Picked second after advancing to its third-straight America East title game in 2013.
• The Great Danes have won 10-plus games three-straight years and advanced to the America East tournament the last five years.
• Second-team all-conference selection Ariana Parker and All-Rookie picks Rachel Bowles and Christine Johnson return for John Battaglino’s squad.
• The Great Danes roster features six seniors and 25 underclassmen.
• Albany opens the season at Bryant on Feb. 21.
UMBC Retrievers (8-8, 2-4 AE)
• Tied for third in the preseason poll after missing the conference tournament for the first time since 2009 last season.
• All-conference midfielders Kristen Bilney (first team) and Alyssa Semones (second team) are part of 18 returning letterwinners from 2013. Semones led the team in scoring with 32 goals and 12 assists.
• UMBC opens the season against Maryland on Feb. 13.
New Hampshire Wildcats (6-11, 3-3 AE)
• Tied for third in the preseason poll with UMBC and enter their second season under head coach Sarah Albrecht.
• Returned to the America East Championship in 2013 after missing the tournament in 2012 for the first time in 15 years.
• All-Conference second-team selection Laura Puccia is the team’s leading returning scorer, finishing second on the team with 30 goals.
• Had nine games decided by two goals or less last year.
• Host Hofstra to start the season on Feb. 15.
Vermont Catamounts (7-10, 2-4 AE)
• Chosen fifth after reaching the America East tournament for the first time since 2008.
• Return five all-conference selections, including leading scorer Sydney Mas (first team) and goalkeeper Charlotte Lyons (second team).
• The Catamounts open the season on Feb. 15 at home against Colgate.
Binghamton Bearcats (18-30, 9-21 AE)
• Picked sixth and will look to qualify for the America East tournament for the first time in program history.
• The Bearcats open the season against Howard on Feb. 22 at 3 p.m.
| Rank |
Team (1st-place votes) |
Points |
| 1 |
Stony Brook (4) |
24 |
| 2 |
Albany (2) |
22 |
| T3 |
UMBc |
14 |
| T3 |
New Hampshire |
14 |
| 5 |
Vermont |
11 |
| 6 |
Binghamton |
5 |