Two of America East's elite programs, UMBC men's soccer and Albany field hockey, are ranked nationally in their sport's latest respective polls.
UMBC's men's soccer team comes in at 14th in the latest NSCAA/Continental Tire National Poll. The Retrievers, who are off to a 3-0-1 start to the 2014 season, are also 12th in the College Soccer News Poll and 19th the Soccer America Poll.
The two-time reigning America East champion, UMBC is riding a 14-game unbeaten streak dating back to last season, going 10-0-4 over that stretch. The Retrievers, who peaked at No. 5 last season, have wins over Long Island U., Sacred Heart and Appalachian State this season while tying 10th-ranked Maryland.
Two other America East men's soccer programs, Vermont and Hartford, are receiving votes in the NSCAA poll. The Catamounts, who are a perfect 4-0 for the first time since 2005, received the most votes of any team not ranked and are also getting votes in the College Soccer News Poll. Hartford, which is unbeaten through three games (2-0-1), got three votes in the NSCAA Poll. America East has not had mulitple teams nationally ranked at the same time since 2009.
Albany field hockey entered the Penn Monto/NFHCA Coaches' Poll at No. 12 after not being ranked in the preseason poll. The Great Danes, who peaked at No. 11 last year and were ranked for 16 consecutive weeks, are off to a 4-1 start. Their lone loss was a 2-1 defeat to No. 5 Syracuse.