3 Teams. 3 Seasons Over?

What is going on with UVM Athletics these days? The field hockey team lost a heart breaker in double overtime yesterday. They now sit at 1-9. The men's soccer team also lost yesterday, falling to 0-6-3. The woman's soccer team record of 0-7-2 isn't exactly a bright spot either.

As far as men's soccer goes, I think their season isn't over for a couple of reasons. The first being, they have played strong competition thus far and just come up short on a couple of occasions. If the ball bounced a little differently versus Portland, UMass, and Memphis, I wouldn't be talking about this. Reason two their season isn't over yet, America East isn't that strong. For the past three years most of the team's wins come in conference. As long as this continues in '09, UVM will likely make another run at the conference tournament.

That said, I can imagine some fans beginning to question Coach Cormier. A 0 winning percentage at the start of October would cause me question the coach too as well as say he is on the hot seat. However, look at his track record the past three seasons: America East runner up in '06, America East championship and NCAA 2nd round appearance in '07, and America East Semi's appearance in '08. As long as Coach Cormier makes it to the semi's in their year's America East tournament his jobs is safe.

As far a the woman's team goes, Coach Kwame Lloyd probably isn't feeling the heat just yet. After two seasons, Coach Lloyd has his team showing some signs of life and I believe this year's team will fare pretty well in conference after playing a tough non-conference schedule. Plus, you have to believe they will be able to win more than 2.3 games in America East this year, which has been their average the last three seasons.

The field hockey team's record isn't good, but I'm not sure if a tough non-conference schedule is the culprit or something else. I think I'll know more as they get into America East play. That said, I have a sneaking suspicion that America East isn't strong in field hockey either and the Cats will have a reasonable shot at the conference tournament despite a lack luster regular season.

America East play starts this weekend for all teams.