BU Tabbed First in Three America East Preseason Polls
August 19, 2005 | Men's Soccer
BOSTON - Boston University swept the number one spot on three of the America East preseason polls with BU men???s and women???s soccer and field hockey all tabbed as favorites to win their respective 2005 conference championships.
Each of the preseason polls was determined by a vote of the league???s head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own team.
In men???s soccer, defending America East champion BU was the unanimous preseason favorite to repeat as the men's soccer conference champion. The Terriers received all eight possible first-place votes and 64 points overall to outscore 2004 tournament runner-up Binghamton. The Bearcats finished second with a total of 54 points and one first-place vote.
BU was 6-2-1 in the America East last season and 10-8-3 overall. After winning both the regular-season and tournament titles, the Terriers advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament after a penalty-kick shootout victory over Dartmouth. This season, reigning America East Coach of the Year Neil Roberts will return eight starting players, including senior midfielder Jamie Johnson, a first-team all-conference selection. Joining him are all-rookie selection Roland Erlichman and second-team all-conference players Zach Kirby and Sedrick Chin.
For the second consecutive season, BU women???s soccer was chosen to win the America East Championship. The Terriers received four first-place votes and 60 points. University of Maine also garnered four first-place votes and finished second in the voting with 58 points.
BU (5-3-1 America East, 13-5-2 overall) returns all 11 starters and 17 letter winners for 11th-year head coach Nancy Feldman. The two-time defending America East Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference selection, senior back Brittany McDonald, is back for the Terriers defense that allowed just 18 goals through 20 games played in 2004. Midfielder of the Year Brooke Bingham and forward Meghann Cook (9-10???28), both first-team picks a season ago, also return for the Terriers, as does junior goalie Stephanie Dreyer (0.79 goals-against average). America East Offensive Player of the Year in 2003, senior Melissa Shulman (16-4???20) rounds out an experienced team that features eight seniors and four juniors.
Finally, BU field hockey also earned the preseason top spot with all five possible first place votes and 25 points overall for a decisive lead over second-ranked University of Maine with 20 points.
BU (6-0 America East, 13-7 overall) returns nine starters from last season including America East Rookie of the Year Pam Spuehler (7-1???15). America East Coach of the Year Sally Starr enters her 25th season at the helm of the Terriers with 2004 all-conference selection Colleen McClay and all-rookie selection Sarah Hudak. Erin Prediger will also be a crucial part of the Terriers backfield after posting an impressive .806 save percentage last season.
