The America East has surged towards one of the best conferences in college soccer in recent years, and with three nationally ranked teams, there is no doubt this is a top-notch league, and the conference tournament will be a must-watch.

Home Safe: New Hampshire, Vermont, Bryant

Bryant's rise as a conference and regional power this season has worked wonders for an America East Conference now among the elite. With the Bulldogs rising from irrelevance to a nationally ranked team, the conference now has three teams among the best nationally as RPI considerations rise considerably. As a result, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Bryant all head into the conference tournament knowing they are guaranteed an at-large bid.

Win and In: UMBC, NJIT, Binghamton

UMBC was on the verge of securing an at-large bid, but two debilitating ties to end the regular season saw its resume crash to now needing a conference tournament win to get into the field of 48. For NJIT and Binghamton, who enter with a losing record, there is no confusion about needing an automatic bid to reach the NCAA tournament.

First Round (Nov. 4) Preview:

No. 6 Binghamton at No. 3 UMBC

A tie between these two to close out the regular season cost UMBC dearly, as it hurt RPI considerations. Now they run it back in the same stadium with UMBC desperately looking to avoid another upsetting result.

No. 5 NJIT at No. 4 Vermont

Two losses from three to end the season sent Vermont crashing to fourth. And with NJIT winning the game when these two met in early October, Vermont is extra motivated to win this first-round matchup against a team that has won just one of the last five.

Semifinals (Nov. 8) Preview:

Vermont/NJIT at No. 1 New Hampshire

Undoubtedly, New Hampshire would rather play NJIT than Vermont. Not that NJIT is an easy team, but having played Vermont in the last game of the regular season to decide the champion, New Hampshire would probably want to avoid Vermont’s hunger for revenge. But with a streak of 12 unbeaten since suffering its only loss in week three, the Wildcats will be confident no matter what.

Binghamton/UMBC at No. 2 Bryant

Having defeated Binghamton 5-0 and tied UMBC 0-0, there is no doubt who Bryant would rather play. But undefeated in the last nine, with seven wins in that run, and the best regular season in program history, Bryant comes in as a team brimming with swagger and chemistry.

Final Notes

• New Hampshire won the regular season crown for a fifth consecutive season.

• New Hampshire returns as 2022 conference tournament champions.

• Vermont has the most conference tournament championships with 6, followed by UMBC and New Hampshire tied with four.

• NJIT and Bryant are chasing their first title.

• Marc Pitarch Bayot of Bryant leads the conference in goals with six and eleven across all games.

• Marc Pitarch Bayot of Bryant leads the conference in assists with five.

• Antreas Hadjigavriel of Bryant leads the conference in shutouts with four and the nation with 13.

• Bryant leads with 17 conference goals, and its 41 total is fourth nationally.

• New Hampshire and Bryant have conceded the fewest conference goals with three.

• Bryant leads the nation with the fewest goals conceded, 4, and best goal deferential, 37.

• No. 11 Vermont, No. 12 Bryant, and No. 19 New Hampshire.

• 3 TDS TOP 100 Players in Attendance: No. 30 Yannick Bright (New Hampshire), No. 40 Taylor Calheira (UMBC), No. 73 Vincente Valor Martinez (Bryant).

• 3 TDS Top 100 Freshmen in Attendance: No. 8 Nick Lockermann (Vermont), No. 92 Austin Bush (New Hampshire), No. 96 Sydney Wathuta (Vermont).

• Final on November 12.