CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Despite a loss to Binghamton in its regular-season finale, Boston University secured its third America East men's soccer regular-season title in four years and will be the top seed for the upcoming conference tournament. Stony Brook, Vermont, UMBC, Hartford and Vermont will round out the tournament field.
The championship begins on Saturday, Nov. 5 with quarterfinal action. Third-seeded Vermont hosts sixth-seeded Albany at 1 p.m. while fourth-seeded UMBC entertains fifth-seeded Hartford at 7 p.m. The teams that advance will play in the semifinal round on Wednesday, Nov. 9 with the Albany-Vermont winner playing at second-seeded Stony Brook and the UMBC-Hartford winner traveling to Boston U.. Both games will be at 7 p.m. The semifinal winners will meet for the America East title on either Nov. 12 or 13.
Boston University (9-8-0 overall, 5-2-0, 15 points America East) fell to Binghamton (5-10-2, 1-5-1, 4), 5-1, in the regular-season finale for both teams Sunday, but the Terriers still secured their 11th America East regular-season crown. The Bearcats, who got two goals from Jake Keegan, will miss the America East Championship for the first time since 2002.
Stony Brook (8-6-3, 4-2-1, 13) had a chance to grab the regular-season crown due to Boston U.'s loss but dropped a 3-1 decision to Hartford (6-8-4, 3-2-1, 11) Sunday. The Seawolves still ended up as the No. 2 seed, the same position they were in in 2009 when they won the conference title.
David Bernhardsson scored and added a pair of assists for the Hawks, who have won three straight and are unbeaten in five of their last six games. Hartford will play against defending-champion UMBC (7-7-3, 4-3-0, 12), which has lost three straight. The Hawks beat the Retrievers 3-1 on Oct. 22 behind three points apiece from Bernhardsson and Anthony Santaga.
Vermont (9-6-1, 4-2-1, 13) went unbeaten in its last four games (3-0-1) to tie Stony Brook for second place and earn the No. 3 seed. The Catamounts, who beat UMBC 4-1 on Saturday behind Juan Peralta's five points, will face Albany (5-9-3, 1-3-3, 7), in the quarters next weekend. The Great Danes secured the final tournament spot with a 1-0 win over New Hampshire on Saturday. Quintel Gates scored in 70th minute and Adrian Foncette made three saves to record his fourth shutout of the year.
Visit America East's Championship Central throughout the tournament for previews, links to in-game coverage and postgame reaction.
2011 America East Men's Soccer Championship
Quarterfinals - Saturday, November 5
No. 6 Albany at No. 3 Vermont, 1 p.m.
No. 5 Hartford at No. 4 UMBC, 7 p.m.
Semifinals - Wednesday, November 9
Vermont/Albany Winner at No. 2 Stony Brook, 7 p.m.
UMBC/Hartford Winner at No. 1 Boston U., 7 p.m.
Final - Saturday, November 12/Sunday, November 13
Semifinal Winners at Highest Remaining Seed, TBA
