BOSTON, Mass. – The America East Conference unveiled its preseason coaches' poll today ahead of the fast-approaching 2022 season.
Vermont collected 25 points and was picked to finish seventh in the poll.
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America East Release | 2022 Schedule
Defending champion Maine was tabbed the preseason favorite with 60 total points and six first-place votes. UAlbany picked up 55 points and two first-place votes while Stanford received 49 points and the final first-place vote.
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Vermont wrapped up the 2021 season – one of the strongest in over a decade – with double-digit wins for the first time since 2007. The Cats outscored opponents 30-27 over the course of last year and the 30 goals represent the second-most in a season under head coach
Kate Pfeifer.
The Catamounts bring back a slew of key returners including two of the team's top-three scorers from a year ago. 2021 All-Rookie selection
Alina Gerke and former All-Conference performer
Kate Hall return to Burlington for their sophomore and senior seasons, respectively. Elsewhere, sophomore
Sophia Drees – who tallied three game-winning goals in 2021 – and senior captain
Haley Buffenbarger are back to bolster a strong defense in front of graduate student goalkeeper
Sierra Espeland. Espeland played her strongest season in cage last year and earned Second Team All-Conference honors while ranking third in saves and fourth in goals against average (1.50).
Vermont opens the season with back-to-back neutral site contests hosted by Yale against Syracuse on Aug. 27 and Sacred Heart on Aug. 28. UVM plays its home opener on Sept. 2 against Merrimack – the first of eight home games this fall.
2022 America East Field Hockey Preseason Poll
| Place |
School |
Points (1st Place Votes) |
| 1 |
Maine |
60 (6) |
| 2 |
UAlbany |
55 (2) |
| 3 |
Stanford |
49 (1) |
| 4 |
New Hampshire |
42 |
| 5 |
California |
36 |
| 6 |
UMass Lowell |
31 |
| 7 |
Vermont |
25 |
| 8 |
UC Davis |
17 |
| 9 |
Bryant |
9 |
