Feb. 22, 2005

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook was selected to finish fourth in America East in 2005, the conference announced on Tuesday after a vote of the head coaches. The Seawolves are coming off their best season in program history, notching school records of 30 wins and 13 conference wins en route to a second place finish in 2004.

Six-time America East Champion Boston University was chosen to win the conference championship after receiving five of a possible eight first-place votes and 61 points overall.

The defending America East Champion, University of Maine, was picked to finish second, garnering one first-place vote with 50 points, while University at Albany was just one point behind the Black Bears in third with two first-place nods and 49 points. Stony Brook University was also grouped in the upper-echelon of teams with 47 points in the fourth spot. Binghamton University (32), University of Hartford (20), UMBC (17) and University of Vermont (12) fill out spots five through eight.

The top four teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship, held at University Field in Stony Brook, N.Y. on May 12-14, with the winner of the tournament receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Softball Championship.

Fifth-year head coach Megan Bryant returns all but one letterwinner from a season ago to Stony Brook (30-33, 13-7).

Senior Kristen Brust is coming off one of the most impressive offensive seasons in league history. Brust hit .423, slugged .794, tallied a .488 on-base percentage, knocked in 50 runs, and recorded 80 hits, 23 doubles, 150 total bases and 15 home runs - all of which ranked either first or second in America East.

Hayley Durham and Jane Stein, along with Brust, are all returning first team all-conference choices, while pitcher and second team pick Angela Andrews also returns.