The America East Roundup will provide quick hits from around the conference as well as provide links for more information on the topics all season long.
Boston U. Women's Soccer Moves Up to 19th in Nation
The Terriers have climbed three spots in the latest national rankings, appearing at 19th in the latest NSCAA/Continental Tire national rankings. Boston U. (2-0-0) posted a pair of 3-0 wins last weekend to get its season off to a good start. Brea Hewitt scored twice in Friday's win over Central Connecticut State, while Jenna Fisher, Madison Clemens and Jamie Turchi scored in Sunday's win at Northeastern. Andrea Green started both games in net and earned her first two collegiate shutouts while stopping seven shots. Boston U. has picked up where it left off last season when it went 19-3-1, won its fifth straight America East title and reached the second round of the NCAA Championship.
Boston U. Women's Soccer to Play on Fox Soccer Thursday
The 19th-ranked Terriers will appear on national television on Thursday as they'll head to Dayton for a matchup with the Flyers (Boston U. preview). The game, which kicks off at 7 p.m., will air on Fox Soccer Channel in the NSCAA Women's College Game of the Week. This is the fifth straight year an America East team has appeared on FSC as part of the package while it's the sixth NSCAA Game of the Week involving a conference member overall. Click here to find Fox Soccer Channel in your area.
Binghamton Women's Soccer Off to Fast Start
The Bearcats improved to 2-0-0 Tuesday night by knocking off Niagara, 1-0. Sarah Furminger scored in the 56th minute and Carrie Martin made two saves to record her second straight shutout (Binghamton recap). Binghamton's perfect start through two games is its first since 2004, the season in which it won its lone America East title. The Bearcats, who beat Bucknell in their season opener Friday, have outscored their opponent 4-0 this season.
Stony Brook's Fernandes Tabbed Men's Soccer Preseason All-American
In men's soccer news, Stony Brook's Leonardo Fernandes added to his preseason accolades by receiving third-team All-America honors from College Soccer News (Team Listing -- Stony Brook release). Fernandes, who was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List last week, is coming off a season in which he racked up 25 points en route to earning America East Midfielder of the Year honors for the second straight year, Most Outstanding Player accolades at the America East Championship and leading his team to its second conference title in three years.
Maine Dedicates New Paul J. Mitchell Batting Pavilion
The Paul J. Mitchell Batting Pavilion, University of Maine's recently completed indoor batting facility, was officially dedicated in a ceremony on Tuesday (Maine story). Several digntaries were in attendance, including Maine senator Susan Collins, former senator George Mitchell and former Maine governor John Baldacci. The facility will be utilized by the Maine baseball and softball teams as well as the community.
Matt Jones Named New Albany Men's & Women's Cross Country Coach
After five seasons as
assistant coach, Matt Jones has been named head men's and women's cross country
coach at Albany, the university announced last week (Albany announcement). Jones, the 2010 USTFCCCA Division I Indoor Track Northeast Region Men's Assistant Track Coach of the Year, helped the Great Danes win their first-ever America East men's cross country crown last season, while the women finished fifth.
Three Women's Lacrosse Programs Earn IWLCA Academic Honor Squad Recognition
University at Albany's, University of New Hampshire's and University of Vermont's women's lacrosse programs were all honored by the IWLCA for having team GPAs of 3.0 or better in 2012. The three teams were among 42 Division I programs named to the organization's Academic Honor Squad for their achievement (IWLCA Announcement).
NCAA Expands Women's Lacrosse Bracket Netting America East an Automatic Bid
The NCAA announced last week that the women's lacrosse championship bracket will expand from 16 to 26 teams starting in 2013 (NCAA story). As a result, America East will now be the recipient of one of 13 automatic qualifying bids for the tournament. Previously, the top leagues in conference RPI (based on previous season) received an automatic bid each year while the remaining conferences battled in play-in games for the remaining automatic berths. The America East was in that top tier each of the past four years, last appearing in a play-in game in 2008, but this expansion will guarantee the conference champion a trip to the NCAAs going forward.
Maine, UNH, Stony Brook Football Nationally Ranked in Preseason Coaches Poll
Three America East institutions that sponsor football are ranked in the FCS Preseason Coaches' Poll. New Hampshire, which made its eighth straight NCAA appearance last season, is 12th in the FCS Coaches' Preseason Poll, which was announced Tuesday (Complete Poll). Additionally, Maine, which reached the NCAA quarterfinals last season, is 16th, while Stony Brook, the reigning Big South Champions, is 17th. Albany, the reigning Northeast Conference champion, received nine votes. The four teams, which all reached the NCAA Championship last year accounting for 20 percent of the field, will all compete in the Colonial Athletic Association for football starting in 2013.