March 28, 2002

Stony Brook, N.Y. - First-year America East Conference member Stony Brook University was picked to finish third in the coaches' preseason poll, the conference announced.

Stony Brook qualified for the ECAC Championship a season ago. The Seawolves, who won just four games in 2000, posted a 21-23 record under rookie head coach Megan Bryant last season. Among the returnees for Bryant is senior pitcher Stephanie Poetzsch, who was 14-12 in 2001 with a 1.88 earned run average and 231 strikeouts in 181.2 innings.

Defending America East regular-season champion Boston University was the unanimous choice to win the conference title. The Terriers received all seven first-place votes and 49 points overall. University of Maine was second with 38 points. Just a point separated Stony Brook University (29) and University of Hartford (28) in third and fourth place, respectively. University of Vermont (20), University at Albany (17) and Binghamton University (15) rounded out the poll.

The Terriers (34-17, 21-5 in America East in 2001), under second-year head coach Amy Hayes, must replace two-time America East Pitcher of the Year Robyn King, who graduated. Two-time all-conference pitcher Robyn Horrick, who is 29-17 in her first two seasons with 13 shutouts, is the heir apparent. Shortstop Kristin Knesek (.315 average in 2001) and 2001 Rookie of the Year Nicole Kurker (.313) return to lead the offense.

The America East schedule consists of 24 games with two doubleheaders vs. each of the other six teams in the conference. Conference play begins Friday, March 29.

The America East Championship, a four-team, double-elimination tournament, will be held May 9-11 at Post Field on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington, Vt.