The Friday Fives

Things are about to get busy around here: basketball media day on Tuesday, women's soccer playoffs on Thursday and the cross country championship on Saturday. What better way to get in the spirit than with the Friday Fives? Check out all the Friday goodness below...

Plays of the Week

Games to Watch

WSOC: There are currently three teams tied for third place. All three are in action this weekend as Stony Brook takes on Hartford, New Hampshire visits Boston U., and Vermont welcomes Binghamton. Maine, which is just one point up for the No. 2 seed is off. So much at stake on the season's final day.

MSOC: UMBC will be looking to prove itself against Stony Brook on Saturday. The Retrievers are tied for the second best goal margin in conference play, but have just one win. UMBC could be a sleeping giant in the playoff race.

FH: It's No. 13 vs. No. 10 when Boston U. hosts Northeastern this Sunday. Boston U. is hunting for an at-large bid into the tournament, and a win over the Huskies will go a long way towards that goal.

VB: We talked about the matchup between Binghamton and UMBC yesterday on the blog. These two teams are neck and neck in the standings as the season reaches its halfway point.

S&D: Believe it or not that season has already started. Check out a live stream of early conference action when Vermont hosts New Hampshire on Saturday.

The Numbers Game

10: The three third place teams all have 10 points. With just one game left in the regular season, there will be lots of shuffling in the standings on Sunday.

6: With Hartford's loss last night, Boston U. clinched its sixth straight America East women's soccer regular season title. Congrats!

14-1: This is Albany field hockey's scoring margin over its past three games, all of which were wins for the Great Danes.

19: In UMBC's recent matchup with Boston U., the Retrievers racked up five goals and nine assists for a total of 19 total points. This is highest single game total for a team this season, and the highest tally for anyone since UMBC racked up 20 total points against St. Joseph's in 2009.

24: Sarah Pope of Albany amassed 24 kills last Friday against New Hampshire, a single-match high for the America East this season.

Lights, Camera, Action

Albany men's basketball continued its "Get To Know Your Great Danes" video series. Next up, sophomore forward Sam Rowley.

The Binghamton women's basketball team met with local media to discuss the upcoming season. Check out a video produced by the Bearcats along with coverage from local media as well.

Get an inside look at the New Hampshire homecoming weekend with this video.

The fifth episode of Stony Brook's Get Your Red on Minute is out.

Vermont women's soccer coach Kristi Lefebvre looks ahead to the Catamounts regular season finale.

Social Media Central

Our official Twitter (@AmericaEast) is 12 followers away from 2,600! Help us reach that number and more by spreading the word!

Meanwhile, our Facebook page (fb.com/americaeast) is 44 likes away from reaching 2,700. If you haven't liked us already, visit our page today!

Make sure you're following all of our schools on Twitter, too! Here are a few lists that will help you find their accounts:

• General athletics accounts
• University twitter accounts
• America East men's basketball accounts (the season is just around the corner!)

Daily Word: Weekend Preview

Fall Championship season kicks off a week from today. That's right folks, one week. Seeding is on the line for women's soccer while teams in men's soccer, field hockey and volleyball are still fighting through the regular season. There are plenty of reasons to watch this weekend so let's get started.

Larissa Nysch is leading Stony Brook's playoff push.

Women's Soccer

Albany at Maine, Thursday 3 p.m.

Hartford at Vermont, Thursday 3 p.m.

Stony Brook at New Hampshire, Thursday 3 p.m.

Binghamton at UMBC, Thursday 6 p.m.

UMBC at Albany, Sunday 12 p.m.

Binghamton at Vermont, Sunday 1 p.m.

New Hampshire at Boston U., 1 p.m.

Hartford at Stony Brook, 2 p.m.

Playoff Picture

Just three teams (Hartford, Maine, New Hampshire) have clinched a playoff spot thus far and not a single team has been eliminated. Seeding is likely to come all the way down to the last game. Binghamton and UMBC are both in must-win mode when they face off today and Hartford can clinch the No. 1 seed with a win. With the quarterfinals kicking off a week from today, everyone is trying to get hot at the right time.

The Big Game

Separated by just three points in the standings, Stony Brook and New Hampshire both have a lot on the line when the two squads tangle this afternoon in Durham. While the Wildcats hold an 8-4-2 all-time series edge, Larissa Nysch has been on fire for the Seawolves. New Hampshire can lock up at least the No. 2 seed with a win and Stony Brook can also assure themselves a spot in the playoffs if it wins. 

Men's Soccer

UMBC at Stony Brook, Friday 7 p.m.

Albany at Boston U., Saturday 2 p.m.

New Hampshire at Vermont, Saturday 2 p.m.

Hartford at Binghamton, Saturday 7 p.m.

Playoff Picture

Vermont looks to continue its unbeaten streak in conference play when New Hampshire comes to visit on Saturday. The Catamounts are 3-1-1 at Virtue Field this season and look to stay a step ahead of Stony Brook for first place. Speaking of the Seawolves, a tough challenge awaits when a UMBC squad this is has won two straight comes to visit. The Retrievers are charging in the second half of the season to get back into the top four.

The Big Game

Albany is just two points ahead of New Hampshire and UMBC for the final playoff spot. When the Great Danes head to Boston U. on Saturday, a three-game winning streak will be on the line as the playoff push picks up. For the Terriers, this game is about getting back on track after dropping two straight America East contests. Remember, this is a team that went into Stony Brook and knocked off the Seawolves not long ago.

Field Hockey

Boston U. at New Hampshire, Friday 7 p.m.

Maine at Albany, Saturday 1 p.m.

Vermont at Fairfield, Saturday 1 p.m.

Hofstra at Maine, Sunday 12 p.m.

Fairfield at Penn, Sunday 1 p.m.

Northeastern at Boston U., Sunday 1 p.m.

Providence at New Hampshire, Sunday 1 p.m.

Albany at Yale, Sunday 3 p.m.

Playoff Picture

Albany got a big win last weekend to put it back into contention for a home playoff game. The Great Danes win also left Fairfield and Vermont as the only teams winless in conference play. One of those two teams will make the playoffs and Saturday's matchup will go a long way in deciding which team it will be. Boston U. and New Hampshire also square of in a game that has national ramifications, as both are in the top 25. If New Hampshire can win, it would be a big leg up in the hunt for the No. 1 seed.

The Big Game

Albany got itself back into the conversation for a top two seed last weekend, and this weekend the Great Danes have a chance to jump into the No. 2 spot with a win over Maine. Albany has the edge in the polls, ranked 23rd while Maine fell out of the top 25 this week, but both teams will be ready to play on Saturday. It's worth noting that the Black Bears only loss in conference play so far came on the road.

Volleyball

Binghamton at UMBC, Friday 7 p.m.

New Hampshire at Providence, Saturday 4 p.m.

Albany at Hartford, Sunday 2 p.m.

The Big Game

It's a bit too early to read into the playoff picture, but Binghamton and UMBC is a big matchup for a pair of teams which are close in the standings thus far. The Bearcats have won two straight in conference play and a third straight win helps to stave off the teams below.

Cross Country

Boston U., Hartford and Stony Brook will tune-up at the Central Connecticut St. Mini Meet on Friday.

Swimming and Diving

UMBC hosts Navy on Friday and the women from New Hampshire and Vermont will square off in Burlington on Saturday.

Linked Up

After his big weekend, Pete Caringi III was named to the Soccer America Men's Team of the Week.

The Bangor Daily News tells how the the basketball teams at Maine are building around diversity.

New Hampshire and Maine will do battle in football this weekend for the 100th time. What's at stake? The Brice-Cowell Musket of course.

Don't forget to vote for the America East Fans' Choice Women's Soccer Player of the Year!

Also, if you don't know what Gangnam Style is, the video Hartford student-athletes made is a great place to start.

Daily Word: Leland Powering Vermont

Conor Leland has been huge for Vermont in net.

Vermont goalie Conor Leland is a local product, hailing from Richmond, Vt. and nearby Mt. Mansfield Union High School. Always among the state's top players, he headed to perennial Division II powerhouse Franklin Pierce out of school. After his freshman season it was back to Burlington, where he would play sparingly during his sophomore campaign. Finally, in his junior season, Leland has broken though and become one of the top goalies in his conference, helping Vermont maintain first place in the America East through four games.

Leland has been unbelievable of late, not letting up a goal in nearly 240 minutes as the Catamounts have gone unbeaten in conference play. He is the conference leader in shutouts (4) and save percentage (.843) and ranks second in goals against average (0.93). But in America East play, Leland has been even better. The only categories that he doesn't lead out of conference-only statistics are saves and saves per game, which is a testament to the defense playing in front of him. If Leland can lower his GAA over these last four games, he will have one of the top 10 season averages in Vermont history.

His play has propelled the Catamounts to the top spot in the America East. If Leland can continue to carry his squad, it would be only the second time Vermont has won the regular season title. It won't be an easy road, however, as Vermont will have to face two teams in the top four spots over its final three games. This includes a big time home matchup with the team that is right behind Vermont in the standings: Stony Brook. What a finish it's going to be.

Box Scores, Recaps and Highlights

Boston U. fell to Harvard in double OT despite outshooting the crosstown rival: Box/Recap/Highlights

UMBC rallied with two second half goals to top Navy on the road: Box/Recap

New Hampshire dropped a defensive battle at Holy Cross: Box/Recap

Linked Up

A story from the Bangor Daily News about how Maine women's soccer will try to overcome some recent injuries.

Also out of Maine, its women's basketball team will host a Fan Appreciation Day and free kids clinic.

Hartford women's soccer player Caroline Dixon talks about the role Title IX played in her decision to come to the United States to play college soccer.

This is from last weekend, but check out Binghamton's "Paint the Paws" tradition.

Expansion is being planned for Stony Brook's LaValle Stadium.

What's Next?

Men's Soccer

Albany at Hartwick, 7 p.m.

Women's Soccer

Boston U. at Dartmouth, 7 p.m.

Field Hockey

Vermont at Dartmount, 3 p.m.

Volleyball

Colgate at Albany, 7 p.m.

Daily Word: Maroney and the Number One

Jess Maroney has been tough
in the cage this year.
(Photo: Steve McLaughlin)

Between 1989 and 1995, goals were a hard thing to come by in America East field hockey. During that time span, the conference leader in goals against average was under 1.00 every single year. Now, the sport has of course come a long way since then and the athletes, equipment and fields have improved. This is apparent when you check out the record books since 1995. From that year on, only two of the leaders in GAA got under the now elusive 1.00 mark. 

With just four games to go in her season, Jess Maroney from Boston U. has an outside shot at being the third. Through 13 games played, Maroney has given up just eight goals, good for a GAA of 1.09. Now, for those unfamiliar with the stat, here's a crash course. To calculate GAA, you take the number of goals allowed -- eight for Maroney -- and multiply it by 70, the number of minutes in a non-overtime field hockey game. In this case, that number comes out to 560. Now, we take 560 and divide it by the number of minutes the goalie has played. Maroney has played just over 512 minutes in the cage, so her GAA comes out to 1.09.

To figure out what she has to do to get under the 1.00 mark, we need her average minutes played per game. Including overtime, Maroney has played 36.5 minutes a game, but we'll round up to 37. If Maroney plays 37 minutes a game for the next four, that will bring her season minutes total up to 660. In this scenario, the Terrier goalie could only surrender one more goal during the season and have a GAA under 1.00. It will be tough, as Boston U. has matchups with two ranked squads left (New Hampshire and Northeastern), but not as unlikely as it may sound. Maroney already has gone two games in a row without giving up a goal twice during the season.

So what about the opposition? Boston U.'s final four opponents have combined to score 2.52 goals per game this season, which doesn't bode well for this scenario. However, Yale has been shut out seven times on the year, New Hampshire twice and Fairfield and Northeastern just once. And remember, Maroney typically plays just one half per game, so all she has to do is hold them scoreless for 35 minutes. Of course this is much easier said than done, but it's definitely something to keep an eye on as the season wraps up.

Linked Up

Stony Brook student-athletes at the Walk for Beauty.

Stony Brook took part in the 19th annual Walk for Beauty, a breast cancer awareness event.

The Maine women's basketball team is looking for ball kids for their home games. Spread the word!

Binghamton discussed community engagement in a recent presidential forum.

It's a long way until March, but Vermont announced today that the Harlem Globetrotters are coming back to Patrick Gymnasium.

Our thoughts and prayers go out the New Hampshire community after the death of Lizzi Marriott. The New Hampshire has a touching piece about her time at the school.

What's Next?

Men's Soccer

UMBC at Navy, 7 p.m.

New Hampshire at Holy Cross, 7 p.m.

Harvard at Boston U. 7 p.m.

Daily Word: AEC Rewind

It was a big weekend on the pitch for America East squads. On the women's side, two more teams (Maine and New Hampshire) clinched a playoff birth, joining Hartford, and Boston U. locked up at least a share of the regular season title while stretching its America East winning streak to 31 straight games. Over on the men's side, junior Pete Caringi III had a massive weekend (four goals and two assists in two games) while Leonardo Fernades got his league-leading fifth game winning goal of the season en route to tying up the scoring race with Jake Keegan at 21 points a piece. Conor Leland has now gone nearly 240 minute without giving up a goal as he helped Vermont stay in first place.

Sound exciting? That's only a small taste of what happened around the conference this weekend. Let's get caught up on the rest below.

Pete Caringi III had a huge weekend for UMBC.

Box Scores, Recaps and Highlights

Men's Soccer

UMBC exploded for five goals as they upended Boston U. at home: Box/Recap/Highlights

Joe Losier's PK in double overtime helped Vermont sink Binghamton and stay in first place: Box/Recap

Stony Brook improved to 16-1-1 under Coach Anatol when scoring first with its win over Hartford. Also, Fernandes now has 75 career points, just four shy of breaking the all-time points record for Stony Brook: Box/Recap/Highlights

Kit Alexieff notched the game winning goal as Albany handled New Hampshire on the road: Box/Recap/Highlights

Women's Soccer

Boston U. shutout Binghamton to stay undefeated in conference play: Box/Recap

Maine beat New Hampshire and now owns the tiebreaker for the No. 2 seed in the America East Championship: Box/Recap

A PK from Sa'sha Kershaw helped Stony Brook earn a draw against UMBC: Box/Recap

Vermont got a big win against Albany, with the two teams just one point apart in the final two playoff spots: Box/Recap

Field Hockey

Corinne McConville powered Albany past Fairfield for its first conference win: Box/Recap

New Hampshire stayed unbeaten in conference with a win over Vermont: Box/Recap/Highlights

Three Boston U. goals in the second half sunk Maine, which had a 1-0 lead at half: Box/Recap/Highlights

Non-Conference Action (Sunday)

Boston U. 0, at Hofstra 1: Box/Recap
Georgtown 0, at Fairfield 6: Box/Recap
Yale 3, at Vermont 2: Box/Recap/Highlights
Lehigh 0, at Albany 9: Box/Recap
Maine 3, at Northeastern 4: Box/Recap
New Hampshire 2, at Boston College 6: Box/Recap

Volleyball

UMBC beat Stony Brook in straight sets to get to .500 in conference play: Box/Recap/Highlights

Albany breezed past Providence in straight sets: Box/Recap

Hartford kicked off its weekend by sweeping Providence: Box/Recap/Highlights

Hartford beat New Hampshire for the first time since 1996: Box/Recap

Binghamton continued its solid conference play with a victory over Stony Brook: Box/Recap/Highlights

Albany remained invincible in the America East with its victory over New Hampshire: Box/Recap

Linked Up

A great story from Newsday about a heart transplant patient and his day with Stony Brook basketball.

Check out the UMBC Coach's Corner with new men's basketball coach Aki Thomas.

Maine named an assistant softball coach.

Basketball season kicked off all over the conference this weekend, with teams rolling out their tip-off festivities. All of them are worth going back to check out, but you have to check out the dance moves from the Maine men's team. See the worm, and other great moves, starting at the 1:30 mark.

Stony Brook football is up to 10th in the TSN FCS poll and received a first-place vote as well. New Hampshire is also at No. 12.

What's Next?

No games tonight, but the weekly releases are out along with the Picture of the Week and the Social Media Recap!