Friday, October 21, 2011

America East Daily Word - October 21

We thought after yesterday’s women’ soccer action, we’d have a clearer picture of the playoff scenarios. While the top three seeds are a lock, the bottom of the bracket looks like a game of 52-pick-up: all sorts of messy.

Hartford and Albany hooked up in a big match in the New York State capital. The Great Danes looked to be on their way to a win clinging to a 1-0 lead heading into the final ten minutes of regulation. But Hartford, riding a 15-game unbeaten streak, would have nothing of it. Amelia Pereira scored in the 82nd minute to tie the score. Neither team scored in overtime and the game ended in a 1-1 tie. Hartford clinches home-field and the bye while Albany locks up the No. 3 seed and will host a quarterfinal game next Thursday.

No. 16 Boston University and Hartford lock horns on Sunday to determine the America East regular season champion. A win or a tie for the Terriers would give them the crown while only a Hartford win would clinch it for the Hawks.

Vermont had a shot to clinch its first conference tourney appearance since 2006 with a win or a tie against Binghamton. The Bearcats came out fired up, though, and dropped UVM, 3-0. The Catamounts still qualified for a postseason berth, however, by virtue of Stony Brook’s 6-0 loss to Maine in Orono. Binghamton,meanwhile, stays in the hunt for the playoffs and to even host a game. NewHampshire and UMBC tied yesterday, 1-1, eliminating UMBC from playoff contention and opening the door for UNH to grab the four seed in the tourney.

Let’s take a look at the weekend scenarios. Four teams are in for sure, but four more are still fighting for the final two spots.

Binghamton, New Hampshire or Vermont could still be the No.4 seed and host a quarterfinal. The Bearcats would clinch that with a win on Sunday combined with a UNH loss. New Hampshire gets the No. 4 seed with a win on Sunday combined with a Binghamton win and a Stony Brook loss. Vermont, lastly, will be No. 4 with a Binghamton loss OR wins by Binghamton, UNH and Stony Brook because that would result in a four-way tie which Vermont would win.

Regular season drama continues in field hockey this afternoon when No. 10 New Hampshire hosts No. 13 Maine. The Wildcats sit in first place in the conference right now but a Maine win would create a four-way tie atop the standings. Expect a lot of scoring in this one as two of the nation’s top offenses butt heads.

On Saturday, No. 16 Boston U. hosts No. 15 Albany in another vital conference field hockey matchup.

Volleyball action tonight features New Hampshire and Hartford in Durham.

For the weekend’s complete schedule, visit AmericaEast.com where you can find live coverage links to all the games.



We are always looking to better connect with you, our fans. If you have something to say, let us know in the comments below, on our Twitter account (@AmericaEast) or on Facebook (fb.com/AmericaEast)!
Posted by Pete Estes at 1:17 PM 0 comments
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Thursday, October 20, 2011

America East Daily Word - October 20

Just four days left in the women’ soccer regular season. All nine America East schools remain in contention for conference tournament bids. Today’s games will go a long way in determining the field and seeding.

Vermont's Haley Marks
At this point in the women’s soccer season last year, Vermont’s 2-15 record saddled them in last place, nowhere close to even sniffing a playoff appearance.

Enter: Kristi Lefebvre, the Vermont native who was promoted from her assistant coach status to lead the Cats out of the America East cellar and back to conference respectability. She has done exactly that and now the Cats sit a win or a draw away from a playoff berth.

Better yet, UVM could potentially host a game. And that’s good news for Lefebvre and company who have gone 5-1-1 at Centennial Field this year and 0-7-3 on the road.

The Catamounts travel to Binghamton tonight to take on the Bearcats with the playoffs at stake. A win or a tie tonight would put UVM in the postseason for the first time since 2006. A ‘W’ would go a long way in assuring a home playoff game as either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed. Lefebvre knows the importance of the game tonight, tweeting earlier, “12 hours from now it will be halftime of the biggest game of the year.. Biggest of career for some! @UVMwsoccer vs. Binghamton at 7pm.”

No. 16 Boston University, Hartford and Albany have already clinched playoff berths. Hartford and Albany tangle today in the New York State Capitol. If the Great Danes win, they are still alive for the No. 2 seed and would have to beat Stony Brook on Sunday and have Hartford lose to Boston U. Hartford, meanwhile, clinches a first-round bye with a win or tie tonight.

In the other two conference games tonight, UMBC hosts New Hampshire and Maine welcomes Stony Brook. Both the Seawolves and the Wildcats control their own destiny and could lock up bids today with wins and a Binghamton loss or tie.

The importance of today’s games cannot be understated because six teams are fighting for the final three playoff spots.

Last night in women’s soccer action, Boston U. battled the rain and Dartmouth, escaping with a 2-0 win at Nickerson Field. Tiya Gallegos scored the game-winner for the Terriers, who have won 10 straight to improve to 15-2-1, which is a program record for wins in the regular season.

Elsewhere in action last night, in men’s soccer, UMBC’s five-game unbeaten streak came toan end at the hands of Penn State. The Nittany Lions scored in the 71st minute to grab the win, 1-0. In volleyball, Albany and Providence both collected wins while Binghamton fell to Syracuse in straight sets. The No. 16Boston U. field hockey team (8-7, 2-1) could not overcome an early second half goal from No. 4 UConn in a 2-1 loss. All seven of the Terriers losses have been to teams ranked 14th or higher in the nation.



We are always looking to better connect with you, our fans. If you have something to say, let us know in the comments below, on our Twitter account (@AmericaEast) or on Facebook (fb.com/AmericaEast)!
Posted by Pete Estes at 10:59 AM 0 comments
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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

America East Daily Word - October 19

Men’s soccer went 1-2-1 last night in four non-conference matchups.

We’ll start with the lone win. New Hampshire hosted Holy Cross and downed the Crusaders in double overtime, 2-1. Ryan McNamara gave New Hampshire a lead early in the first half but Holy Cross responded almost immediately to knot the score. The game remained tied until the 108th minute when Brad Hilton set up Josh Bronner for the game-winning goal.

Binghamton, meanwhile, scored its first goal since defeating Syracuse back in late September to earn a tie with Colgate. The Bearcats surrendered the game’s first goal but battled back to draw even and get the tie.

Meanwhile, Boston University and Albany received tough tests from No. 17 Boston College and Lehigh, respectively. The Terriers and Eagles played through a scoreless first half with BC dominating possession but Boston U. getting some scoringchances. BC broke through, though, in the 67th minute from a one-time shot from Kyle Bekker and came away with the 1-0 win. Albany allowed two second half goals to Lehigh in its 2-0 loss.

UMBC hosts Penn State tonight
Tonight in men’s soccer action, UMBC hosts Penn State at Retriever Soccer Park. The game will be televised on ABC 2’s digital channel (Live Well Network). Last season, UMBC defeated then No. 23 Penn State, 2-1, in overtime.

Apparently, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson is not an “on-the-stage-speaker.” The NBA hall-of-famer spoke to a packed SEFCU Arena at the University at Albany last week. Magic spoke at length about his business ventures and his NBA career. And of course, being a Los Angeles Laker at heart, Magic had to throw in a plug for Kobe and a dig at LeBron.

“Everybody always says ‘who's better, Kobe or LeBron?’ Are you kidding me? Kobe has five championships, LeBron zero,” Magic said. 

Johnson’s speech was part of the World Within Reach Speaker Series at Albany. According to the Albany Student Press, it was “easily” the most engaging of the talks so far.

We’ve also got a busy night on the fields and courts with games in women’s soccer, field hockey and volleyball.

The No. 16 Boston U. women’s soccer team looks to win its tenth straight game, and stay perfect at Nickerson Field this season, against Dartmouth. In field hockey, No. 16 Boston U. travels to Storrs, Conn., to take on the fourth-ranked UConn Huskies. And in volleyball, Albany looks to get back on the winning track against Colgate on the road, Binghamton hosts Syracuse and Providence welcomes Rhode Island rival, Bryant.


We are always looking to better connect with you, our fans. If you have something to say, let us know in the comments below, on our Twitter account (@AmericaEast) or on Facebook (fb.com/AmericaEast)!
Posted by Pete Estes at 10:42 AM 0 comments
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Tuesday, October 18, 2011

America East Daily Word - October 18


Before the countless hours of suicides and defensive slides had a chance to officially begin, several America East squads got the basketball season started with a little bit of fun.

Harford kicked off its season with a little Midnight Mania…



UMBC did something a little different to get fired up for the brand new season.




And the one of the best names in the America East Conference, Storm Clonch at Binghamton, brought the thunder with some of his slam dunks at the Bearcats’ annual event…


We only had one game on the slate yesterday. Well, really it was only a half a game but No. 15 Boston University and No. 8 New Hampshire played one of the most exciting halves (and more) of field hockey we have seen this fall.
Thanks to heavy rain and lightning, Friday night’s game had to be halted after halftime with UNH leading, 2-1. The conclusion of the game was played yesterday.

The Terriers tied the game early in the second half only to see the Wildcats snatch it right back. Boston U.’s Andrea Greene forced this one into overtime, though, with her goal in just under nine minutes remaining in regulation. In the extra session, the Terriers had plenty of opportunities and it looked like the game was headed to a stroke-off until Whitney Frates scored her third goal of the game with under a minute to play to give UNH the 4-3 win. The game took 70 hours to play from start to finish.

Four men’s soccer teams take to the pitch this evening, three of them at home. New Hampshire hosts Holy Cross, Binghamton welcomes Colgate and Boston U. gets a test from Comm. Ave. rival and fourteenth ranked Boston College. Lastly, Albany travels to Lehigh.

The Boston University Today publication put together a great feature on freshman Dominique Badji who came to play soccer for the Terriers from Senegal. You can see his story here.


We are always looking to better connect with you, our fans. If you have something to say, let us know in the comments below, on our Twitter account (@AmericaEast) or on Facebook (fb.com/AmericaEast)!
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Monday, October 17, 2011

America East Daily Word - October 15

Cross country teams will hit the trails on Oct. 29 in Albany to kick off the championship season.

Dave Ramada and Chrissy Klepper
But there is still a whole lot to be decided in all five fall championship sports in the next two weeks. Two teams are still undefeated in women’s soccer and field hockey conference play. The top three seeds in men’s soccer are still jockeying for position and the parity in volleyball is out of control. 

Let’s take a look at some action from over the weekend, starting first with some women’s soccer. It looks like the regular season title will belong to either Boston University or Hartford, although they could share the crown. Both teams earned wins this weekend and have not lost in conference. Hartford, in fact, hasn’t lost all year and is currently riding a 15-game unbeaten streak. The Hawks disposed of a pesky Vermont squad, 2-0, on Sunday, while Boston U. put the hurt on UMBC, 8-0. Albany defeated Maine, 3-1, to gain sole possession of third place in the conference standings because of Vermont’s loss to Hartford. New Hampshire battled Binghamton, coming up with a huge win, 2-1.

If the playoffs started today, Boston U. and Hartford would have first-round byes as the top two seeds. Albany would host a first-round playoff game against New Hampshire, while Vermont and Stony Brook would duke it out in the 4-5 game.

Men’s soccer hit the national spotlight this weekend when UMBC hosted New Hampshire. Friday night live on the Fox Soccer Channel, first-half action looked similar to the two teams’ conference title game last year. A second-half own goal, however, and a strike from UMBC’s Andrew Bulls gave the Retrievers a 2-0 win in Baltimore. UMBC is riding a five-game unbeaten streak and is undefeated is 4-0-0 in conference for the first time in its nine seasons in the league.

The best men’s soccer conference game of the year, very well could have been the Vermont-Hartford tilt on Saturday night. Down one with just over ten minutes to go in the game, Vermont’s Joe Losier capitalized on a penalty kick and then with 25 second remaining in regulation, D.J. Edler scored off a corner kick to give the Catamounts a dramatic, 2-1 win in Hartford. Elsewhere, Albany and Binghamton played to a scoreless draw and Boston U. won for the fifth time insix games, defeating Stony Brook in overtime, 1-0.



Maine and Albany were the only victorious teams in field hockey this weekend. The Black Bears came from behind to edge Hofstra, 5-4 on Sunday and clobbered Fairfield, 6-1 on Saturday. Albany handled Delaware with relative ease in a 4-0 win on Sunday and shutout Vermont, 3-0, on Friday.

Volleyball teams are proving the transitive property is useless in sports. Albany beat Binghamton earlier this season, Binghamton beat New Hampshire on Friday, and so the Albany-New Hampshire match on Sunday should have belonged to the Danes. Not so fast, said the Wildcats, who swept Albany, 3-0.  The playoff picture in volleyball has Albany and New Hampshire up front at 5-1 while Stony Brook sits in third and three teams battle for that final playoff spot.

Things are quiet on the field tonight, except for the conclusion of the New Hampshire-Boston U. field hockey game that was halted on Friday because of inclement weather, at 4 p.m..

For all your conference news, head over to AmericaEast.com.

We are always looking to better connect with you, our fans. If you have something to say, let us know in the comments below, on our Twitter account (@AmericaEast) or on Facebook (fb.com/AmericaEast)!
Posted by Pete Estes at 12:30 PM 0 comments
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