BOSTON - The Boston University field hockey team is the unanimous favorite to win the 2006 America East championship, as announced by the conference office following a vote of the league's coaches. Last season, the Terriers won their first conference crown since 2000 and came within one goal of advancing to the NCAA Second Round.

The Terriers received all five possible first-place votes for the second consecutive year (coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team) and had 25 points overall with Maine, last year's conference runner-up, coming in second with 18 points. Albany (15) and New Hampshire tied for third in the preseason rankings, while Vermont (12) and UMBC (5) rounded out the poll.

BU is coming off a season in which it finished 16-6 overall and finished the year ranked 17th in the final STX/NFHCA Coaches' Poll. Head coach Sally Starr, now in her 26th season at the program's helm, returns nine of her 11 starters from a year ago and has added a very talented group of newcomers.

The 2006 campaign for the Terriers will commence on Sunday, Aug. 27, when the team welcomes Fairfield to Jack Barry Field for a contest beginning at 2 p.m.

2006 America East Preseason Coaches' Poll