The America East Roundup will hit on several news and notes from around the conference weekly throughout the year, as well as provide links for more information.
Coach Abe Extended
Fresh off a season in which she led her team to its best season in program history, University at Albany head women's basketball coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson has received a two-year contract through the 2016-17 season, the school announced Tuesday (Albany story). Abrahamson-Henderson, who is beginning her third year as the Great Danes' head coach, has compiled a 39-24 record in two seasons on Albany's bench, including a 23-10 mark last year when her team won its first-ever America East title and made its first NCAA Championship appearance. Abrahamson-Henderson's team will be among the conference favorites in 2012-13 as she brings back six players that averaged 10 or more minutes a game last year, including all-conference standouts Ebone Henry and Julie Forster.
Three Field Hockey Programs Remain Ranked
Boston University, University of New Hampshire and University at Albany are all ranked in this week's Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches' Poll. The Terriers (6-2), who rebounded from losing their first two games of the year with a 3-2 double-overtime win at #25 UMass Tuesday, are ranked 12th. The Wildcats (4-3), winners of three straight and four of five, climbed five spots to #16, while the Great Danes (3-4) fell one spot to #20.
Stony Brook Men's Soccer Ranked Regionally
The Stony Brook men's soccer team, which has won two of the last three America East titles, including the 2011 crown, is ranked ninth in the latest NSCAA Northeast Regional Rankings. The Seawolves, who are 5-2-0 on the season, have won three straight and four of their last five, and rank 22nd nationally averaging 2.14 goals per game.
Men's Soccer Standouts Prominent Among National Stats Leaders
A month into the 2012 season, several America East men's soccer standouts rank at or near the top of the national rankings in various statistical categories (NCAA Stats Leaders):
- Three America East players rank among the top scorers in the nation.
> Binghamton University's Jake Keegan has had a torrid start to his season, racking up 17 points on seven goals and three assists in just seven games. His seven goals are tied for the most in the country, while his 17 points are tied for third. Keegan also ranks fifth averaging 2.43 points per game.
> Stony Brook University's Leonardo Fernandes, the two-time America East Midfielder of the Year, is tied for 14th with 12 points. He tallied seven of those in two games last weekend to earn conference Player of the Week and Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week honors.
> One of the most exciting freshman in America East and the country, University of Hartford's Javoni Simms is sixth nationally with six goals and is also tied for 14th with 12 points. He has scored in each of his last four games and helped Hartford run off four consecutive wins.
> In addition to the goal scorers, UMBC's Milo Kapor is tied for second in assists with five.
> University of Vermont's Conor Leland ranks among the country's top goaltenders. He's sevent in goals-against average (0.45) and third in save percentage (.917).
Cross Country Teams Ranked Among Top in Region
Four America East cross country squads remain in the USTFCCCA Regional Rankings. Boston University men lead the group, and are ranked ninth in the Northeast after winning their last two meets, the New Hampshire Pre-Championship meet on Sept. 14 and the Bryant Invitational on Sept. 8. UNH follows the Terriers, ranked 15th. On the women's side, Stony Brook is 10th after placing second at the Wolfie Invitational last weekend. University of Vermont comes in 13 and UNH is 14th.