Stony Brook Tops 2020 #AESB Poll
BOSTON – After a season that saw six America East softball programs win 19 or more games for the first time since 2010, Stony Brook is the #AESB preseason favorite in 2020. It’s the first time since 2015 that the Seawolves have been tabbed the preseason choice by the conference’s head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own team.
Forecasting another competitive season, the top three teams in the poll all received at least one first-place vote. Stony Brook, which appeared in the championship game last year, garnered four first-place votes and 34 points to edge out second-place UMass Lowell, last year's regular-season champion, which earned two first-place tallies and 31 points. Reigning champion UMBC picked up the final first-place tally and 24 points to come in third.
Here is the full poll:
2020 America East Softball Preseason Poll
No. School Points (1st Place Votes)
1. Stony Brook 34 (4)
2. UMass Lowell 31 (2)
3. UMBC 24 (1)
4. Binghamton 21
5. UAlbany 18
6. Hartford 13
7. Maine 6
Courtney Coppersmith (UMBC), the 2019 #AESB Pitcher and Rookie of the Year who was named to the 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List this week, headlines the top returnees in the conference along with reigning Player of the Year Melissa Rahrich (Stony Brook) and first-team All-Conference standout Courtney Cashman (UMass Lowell).
The 2020 campaign begins the weekend of Feb. 7 with Hartford and UMass Lowell in action. Full Composite Schedule
The top six teams in the conference standings will qualify for the America East Softball Championship, which will be held at Binghamton University May 6-9.
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