POTSDAM – The SUNY Potsdam women’s soccer team has been picked to finish 10th in the State University of New York Athletic Conference this season, just like the men’s team.

A preseason poll of SUNYAC coaches released this week predicts both the Bears’ women’s and men’s teams will finish tenth.

The Lady Bears, who finished 8-9-1 overall and 0-8-1 in conference play, earned 19 points and one first-place vote in the poll, which assigned points for each vote (10 for first place, nine for second place, etc.). Cortland, which advanced to the SUNYAC Tournament final for the fourth time since 2004 last season, edged out Oneonta and Geneseo to top the poll with 91 points, including four first-place votes.

Potsdam hopes to continue the progress achieved in the last two seasons under fifth-year head coach Tim Moody. One season after finishing with the best record in program history and advancing to the second round of the ECAC Tournament, the 2009 Bears won six of their first seven matches and posted a 6-4 record at home.

Senior Kelsey Butz (Schenectady, N.Y.) and juniors Kathleen Frear (Scotia, N.Y.) and Alissa Tischler (Potsdam, N.Y.) will serve as captains for the 2010 season. Senior Cortney Poirier (Moira, N.Y.) returns as the team’s leading scorer. She tallied 27 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 2009.

The team opens the season this Saturday, Sept. 4, against Hilbert at Alfred at 4 p.m. The Bears open up their home slate on Sept. 7 against Wells at 6 p.m.

The complete poll results follow:

2010 SUNYAC WOMEN’S PRE-SEASON POLL

1. Cortland 91 (4)

2. Oneonta 86 (3)

3. Geneseo 80 (2)

4. Plattsburgh 64

5. Brockport 56

Fredonia 56

7. Buffalo State 43

8. Oswego 29

9. New Paltz 26

10. Potsdam 19 (1)