BOSTON — A new era for America East field hockey begins in 2015 as four west coast institutions- California, UC Davis, Pacific and Stanford- join the conference as associate members. The Cardinal were unanimously chosen as the West Division favorites in the conference’s preseason coaches poll announced Wednesday afternoon, while Albany, the reigning America East champion and an NCAA Final Four team last season, was tabbed the East Division favorite by a unanimous vote. The voting was conducted by the conference’s nine head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams and made selections within their own division only.
The Great Danes, coming off their best season in program history, received all four possible first-place votes for 16 points. New Hampshire received the final first-place tally and earned 12 points to finish second. Maine (11 points) was third, followed by Vermont (6) and UMass Lowell (5).
The Cardinal, an NCAA tournament team in 2014, earned all three possible first-place tallies for nine points. The other three West Division squads- Cal, UC Davis and Pacific- all earned five points and tied for second. The Tigers garnered the final first-place vote.
The 2015 field hockey season begins on Friday, Aug. 28 eight of the nine America East teams in action. Conference play, which will consist of an intradivision double round robin format, begins in mid-September. The eight-team America East Championship will take place at Albany Nov. 5-8.
Here is the full poll:
2015 Field Hockey Preseason Poll (1st-place votes)
East Division
1. Albany (4), 16 pts.
2. New Hampshire (1), 12
3. Maine, 11
4. Vermont, 6
5. UMass Lowell, 5
West Division
1. Stanford (3), 9 pts.
T2. Pacific (1), 5
T2. California, 5
T2. UC Davis, 5
Preview each of the teams below --
East Division
1. Albany Great Danes
2014 record: 20-3, 5-0, AE Champion (1st), NCAA Final Four
- Albany experienced its best season in program history in 2014, winning a school-record 20 games, capturing the America East title and becoming the third school in conference history to reach the Final Four.
- The Great Danes return 14 players, including seven starters from last year's team, including NFHCA Player of the Year Paula Heuser, who racked up 69 points last year and led the nation averaging 3.0 ppg.
- Goalkeeper Maxi Primus is back after earning third-team All-America status last year.
- The Great Danes will face a challenging schedule featuring four opponents that reached the NCAA tournament last year. They open at Miami (Ohio) on Aug. 28.
2. New Hampshire Wildcats
2014 record: 9-12, 4-1, AE runner up (2nd)
- New Hampshire reached the America East title game for the fifth-straight year in 2014.
- Eight starters are back for the Wildcats, including first-team all-leaguer Chandler Giese.
- UNH will face four NCAA participants in 2015 and opens its season with Boston University on Aug. 28.
3. Maine Black Bears
2014 record: 10-10, 3-2, AE Semifinals (3rd)
- Maine recorded its sixth-straight 10 win campaign last year.
- Danielle Aviani, a second-team all-leaguer last year, leads a strong group of Black Bear returnees.
- Maine kicks off its season in pursuit of its first America East title on Aug. 28 against La Salle.
4. Vermont Catamounts
2014 record: 3-15, 1-4, DNQ (5th)
- Vermont improved its win total by three last season and will look to reach the America East tournament for the first time since 2007.
- The Catamounts bring back 10 starters from last year's team, including second-team all-conference choice Molly Higgins.
- Vermont will play nine home games in 2015 and open its season at Hofstra on Aug. 28.
5. UMass Lowell River Hawks
2014 record: 6-13, 0-5, Ineligible for postseason, (6th)
- UMass Lowell grew its win total by four last season and has 17 letterwinners back from last season.
- The River Hawks will be eligible for both the NCAA and America East Championships for the first time in 2015.
- UMass Lowell starts its season at home vs. Quinnipiac on Aug. 28.
West Division
1. Stanford Cardinal
2014 record:19-3, 4-0, NorPac Runner-Up (1st - NorPac West), NCAA Second Round
- Stanford will look to build on its 2014 campaign in which it claimed its first NCAA Tournament victory in, recorded a 19-3 record and achieved a program-high No. 3 national ranking.
- The Cardinal will have 15 letterwinners back from last year's team, including first-team All-America goalkeeper Dulcie Davies.
- Stanford's schedule including six teams that finished 2014 ranked in the Top 20, including Syracuse, which it will open with on Aug. 28.
T2. Pacific Tigers
2014 record: 6-12, 1-3, NorPac 5th Place (T2nd - NorPac East)
- Pacific returns all 11 starters from last year's team.
- First-team All-NorPac selection Ali Campos is back after leading the Tigers in points (30).
- Pacific kicks off its season at home against Bryant on Aug. 28. Nine of its games will take place at home.
T2. California
2014 record: 8-11, 2-2, NorPac 4th Place (2nd - NorPac West)
- Eight upperclassmen will lead the Bears in their first season in America East.
- All-NorPac selection and NFHCA All-Region choice Clara Goni will pace Cal.
- The Bears open their season against Duke on Aug. 28.
T2. UC Davis Aggies
2014 record: 6-14, 0-4, NorPac 3rd Place (3rd - NorPac West)
- UC Davis has 17 players and nine starters back from last year's team.
- Kayla Wigney is the Aggies' top returning scorer after netting 19 points on six goals and seven assists last year.
- UC Davis starts its season against NCAA foe Syracuse on Aug. 29.