Top 11 of 2011 - Final 3

On the eve of 2012, it only seems neccessary that we say goodbye to 2011 with the top three moments  from the past 12 months.

So here they are, the best of the best from 2011.

3 - Black Bears in the NCAAs
Maine won its first baseball championship since the 2006 season and then proceeded to win a game in the NCAA Regionals over FIU. That win marked the third straight season the America East Champion has won a contest in the Regionals. Jeffrey Gibbs threw an absolute gem on the mound for Maine allowing just two hits over eight innings of work to pick up the win. In addition, that win happened to be the 1,800th in program history.

2 - Perfection for Great Danes

Albany's women's lacrosse team had one of the best seasons in America East history. Albany entered the NCAA tournament as the last undefeated team in Division I (17-0) and then went on to knock off Dartmouth in the first round - the conference's third NCAA tourney win. The Danes outscored opponents 248-139 over the course of the season, leading the conference in both, and were well represented in the IWLCA's postseason awards.

1 - Terrier Five-Peat
Boston University's women's soccer team captured its fifth straight America East conference title in dominating fashion winning a program-record 19 games and advancing to the NCAA tournament's second round. The Terriers also won a program-record 14 straight contests during the impressive run and boasted two All-Americans in the conference's Striker of the Year Jess Luscinski and Defender of the Year Lina Cords. Twenty players return for Nancy Feldman in 2012 but it was the Terriers' 2011 run that earns the top spot in our countdown of the Top 11 from '11.
Congratulations to everyone who made 2011 great.

We now look forward to what 2012 has to offer.

Happy New Year from the America East Conference.

Top 11 of 2011 (Cont.)

AExtra continues its countdown of the top 11 moments from 2011.  Today we break down numbers 7-4.

7 - Fernandes Leads Stony Brook to Soccer Glory

Leonardo Fernandes could not be stopped. Neither could the high-powered Stony Brook offense. The Seawolves scored seven goals in two America East men's soccer tournament games to earn their second conference title in three years. Fernandes set the single-game record for points with five in the final and tied the overall championship record with eight points in the Seawolves' two games.

6 - Hawks Fly High

With the 2011 men's lacrosse game between Hartford and Stony Brook tied at 10, Hartford's Ryan Compitello drove from behind the goal, delivered a beauty of a shot and staked the Hawks to their first-ever conference title. Compitello's goal came with just one second remaining in the game. It was one of the most thrilling moments in 2011.  

5 - Gone Dancin'

The Boston University men and Hartford women capped off great seasons with conference titles and headed to the NCAA Tournament. The Hawks rode Alex Hall's 15-point night to defeat Boston U., 65-53. It was Hartford's fifth conference title. The Terrier men, meanwhile, trailed Stony Brook by as many as 15 before John Holland took over. The 2011 Player of the Year scored 23 points after halftime to send Boston U. dancing.

4 - Field Hockey Among the Elite
All six America East field hockey teams landed in the top 50 of the NCAA's final RPI standings after an impressive season on the turf. New Hampshire, Albany, Boston U. and Maine all finished in the top 25 as the conference ranked third overall. America East made a national name for itself this season consistently placing teams in the national poll while boasting some of the top statistics in the nation, as well.

The top three moments from 2011 will be unveiled tomorrow on the eve of 2012 so make sure you stay tuned to AExtra.

Hartford Downs Harvard

Nikkia Smith scored 25 points for Hartford to lead the Hawks past visiting Harvard last night, 72-61. Smith tallied 21 of her 25 points in the first half as the Hawks improve to 9-4.

Check out the highlights courtesy of the Hartford Athletic Department.

Top 11 of 2011

It has been quite a year for the America East Conference. Record broken, champions crowned and plenty of memorable moments from the year that was.
So let's take a look back at some of the best from the year that was. It's moments 11-through-8 in the Top 11 from '11.

11 - Huchthausen at the Helm
Back in September, the conference announced the hiring of a new commissioner. Amy Huchthausen, a former assistant commissioner with the America East, was brought on to lead the conference. Huchthausen joined the conference after spending the previous five years at the NCAA and will serve as the Chief Executive Office of America East. University of Hartford President Walt Harrison called Amy, "one of the brightest rising starts in intercollegiate athletics."

10 - Dominance in the Pool
Both the UMBC men's and women's swimming and diving teams captured the team titles back in February. It was the eighth consecutive America East title for the men and the third overall for the women since joining the conference in 2003. Three Retrievers earned individual awards to cap off another championship weekend. Both sqauds were selected by the league's coaches to win again in 2012.

9 - Aces For Terriers, Bearcats
2011 saw the continuation of two impressive championship winning streaks on the tennis courts. The Binghamton men won their fourth straight and the Boston University women won their unprecedented 18th title in a row. The Terriers defeated Binghamton for the second straight season and the Bearcat men downed UMBC. Binghamton's Sven Vloedgraven, a three-time America East Player of theYear, went 32-7 during the regular season, finishing the year ranked No. 77 in the nation earning him a bid in the NCAA Singles Championship.

8 - Valentine Milers
Three America East track stars put on a show in the mile event at the Boston U. Valentine Invitational in February. Binghamton's Erik van Ingen, Boston U.'s Rich Peters and Maine's Riley Masters all broke the 4-minute barrier in the mile run. Van Ingen won the race in 3:57.11 to break his own school record in the event. Masters' time of 3:58.17 and Peters' time of of 3:58.26 also broke school records. Before that race, only three runners in the country had broken the 3:59 mark during the season. All three America East runners qualified for the NCAA Championship.


Make sure to stay tuned to AExtra tomorrow as we continue the countdown with moments 7-4 in the Top 11 from '11.