UAlbany Field Hockey Picked Second in America East Conference Preseason Poll

Cambridge, Mass. - University at Albany has been chosen to finish second in the America East Conference Preseason Field Hockey Poll, as announced by the league office on Thursday afternoon. The Great Danes, who were the conference's co-regular season champions last season, earned one first-place vote and 20 total points to finish just behind defending tournament champion Boston University in the poll.

The Terriers took home four first-place votes for 23 total points. New Hampshire claimed the final first-place vote to finish third behind the Great Danes with 17 points. Maine (16 points) was fourth, while Fairfield and Vermont each claimed seven points to round out the six-team poll.

UAlbany, which won a share of its second straight regular-season title last season, fell short in its bid to claim back-to-back conference crowns. The Great Danes were paced by their defense in 2009, recording 10 shutouts. Senior goalkeeper Christine Hoffman led the nation in goals against average (0.44) and save percentage (.889) after starting all 18 games in the cage. Senior Suzy Clephane was named the league's defensive player of the year. Junior Christina Patrick is the team's top returning scorer after tallying six goals, including four game-winners, a year ago.

Head coach Phil Sykes, who earned his second consecutive conference coach of the year award, will lead the Great Danes into the 2010 season, hosting the Captial Land Classic with Virginia Commonwealth and Hofstra on Aug. 28-29.

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2010 America East Conference Preseason Field Hockey Poll

1. Boston U. (4), 23 points

2. UAlbany (1), 20 points

3. New Hampshire (1), 17 points

4. Maine, 16 points

T5. Fairfield, 7 points

T5. Vermont, 7 points

(first-place votes in parenthesis)


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information