BOSTON – The America East Conference unveiled its preseason coaches' poll today ahead of the fast-approaching 2021 season.
 
Vermont collected 16 points and was picked to finish eighth in the poll for the second straight season.
 
RELATED LINKS
America East Release | 2021 Schedule
 
Monmouth was tabbed the preseason favorite once again with 61 total points and five first-place votes. Maine picked up 60 points and the other four first-place votes while UAlbany received 43 points and the third spot in the poll. Two-time defending champion Stanford tallied 30 points and was picked to finish sixth.
 
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
 
Vermont wrapped up the 2020 season – which was played in the spring of 2021 – with a 2-8 record. Four of those losses were by one goal and two came in penalty shootouts.
 
The Catamounts bring back a slew of key returners including leading goal scorer Kate Hall and top midfielder Clodagh Ferry, both of whom were second-team All-Conference selections last spring. Overall, Vermont returns nearly 80-percent of its goal-scoring output from the spring. Defensively, goalkeeper Sierra Espeland is coming off a season in which she ranked fifth in the league in goals against average (1.611) and fourth in save percentage (.742).
 
Vermont opens the season with three straight games on the road starting with a neutral site contest against Sacred Heart at Syracuse on Aug. 28. UVM plays its home opener on Sept. 5 against Holy Cross – the first of ten home games this fall.
 
2021 America East Field Hockey Preseason Poll
 

Place	School	Points (1st Place Votes)
1	Monmouth	61 (5)
2	Maine	60 (4)
3	UAlbany	43
4	UMass Lowell	40
5	New Hampshire	33
6	Stanford	30
7	California	28
8	Vermont	16
9	UC Davis	13