UMBC

Head Coach Kristy Hartman Mumma's Rertievers were picked to finish sixth in the America East Preseason Coaches' Poll.

- The UMBC field hockey team was picked to finish sixth in the 2005 America East Preseason Coaches’ Poll, receiving 5 points. Boston University was a unanimous pick to win the conference, receiving all five first-place votes and 25 points overall. Coaches chose the order of finish with disregard of their own team.

Maine finished second with 20 points, followed by New Hampshire (17), Albany (12), Vermont (11) and UMBC (5). Northeastern, which had won the last four conference tournaments, has moved on to the Colonial Athletic Association, opening the door for a new America East champion.

Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Kristy Hartman Mumma, the Retrievers will look to advance to the America East Championship for the first time since UMBC joined the league in 2003. The top four teams in the conference advance to the tournament, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. The Retrievers finished the season 4-13 overall last season, including 0-6 in the America East, good for sixth in the conference.

Despite losing five key starters to graduation after last season, the Retrievers return six starters and 14 players from last year’s squad, including junior midfielder Julie Moore, an All-America East Second Team selection as UMBC’s 2004 leading scorer with nine goals and three assists. Also returning are senior attack Katie Cutchall, who has started every game the last two seasons and is seventh on the Retrievers’ all-time scoring list; senior defender Tiffany Deinzer, who has started all but one game over the last two years and recorded four defensive saves in 2004; and junior attack Kristi Troster, who has started every game in her career and was fourth last season in scoring (5 goals, 3 assists).

The Retrievers open the season Aug. 31 at Towson at 6 p.m. They host West Chester Sept. 10 at 2 p.m. for their first home game, and their first conference game is Oct. 1 at Vermont. The America East Championship takes place Nov. 4-6.

2005 America East Preseason Coaches’ Poll
School (1st-Place Votes) Points
1. Boston U. (5)                   25
2. Maine                                20
3. New Hampshire              17
4. Albany                               12
5. Vermont                            11
6. UMBC                                5