New for the 2011-2012 seasons, the America East Daily Word, a collaboration between AmericaEast.com and AExtra, will recap the previous days games and on goings on our nine campuses and provide links to previews, recaps, featrures and exclusive coverage.

We’ve got three games on tap tonight, so let’s play a little take your pick.  Who is going to be the hero tonight for the three America East squads in action? After we throw out some predictions/analysis, feel free to take your pick – we’ll put a poll on the side of the blog to vote.

Who’s it going to be America East fans?

We’ll stay local to start our inaugural rendition of take your pick.  No we aren’t talking the Boston Red Sox.  The Boston U. men’s soccer team has been plagued by severe scoring droughts and a tough non-conference schedule.  Tonight, the Terriers don’t have far to go when they face Harvard on the road.  If you’re Boston U., the player you most desperately need to breakout his Ben Berube.  The senior scored a career-high eight goals last year but has been held scoreless in the Terriers’ first seven contests.  Boston U. ranks 181^st in the nation in goals per game and Berube could be the key to turning that around tonight.  Last year Boston U. upset the then No. 20 Crimson, but will need big performances tonight to earn the same result.

The Providence volleyball team hasn’t played a match since last Wednesday when it lost to Manhattan.  The week-long hiatus ends tonight with a road contest at rival Rhode Island in Kingston.  Alright Friar fans, who needs to be the hero tonight?  Is it senior Lauren Fletcher who led the league last year in points and blocks per set and currently ranks third with 210 kills?  Or maybe it will take a standout effort from the supporting cast. Fellow senior and fellow Lauren, Hendel that is, and freshman Colleen McCollom will need to have big games to stop the Rams.

Vermont field hockey clocked Siena last Saturday and will have its hands full with 6-2 Dartmouth this afternoon.  The Big Green’s only two losses came to conference powerhouses Maine and New Hampshire.  Scoring has been balanced this year for the Cats with give players scoring at least two goals but Wednesday’s bout will be won in the defensive third.  Sophomore Stephanie Zygmunt ranks fifth in the nation in saves with 77 and will have to be a force in the cage for UVM.   

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