Even with a 49-3 conference record over the last three seasons and a run of three straight regular-season America East titles, the University of Maine women tied for second in the annual conference preseason poll.

Meanwhile, the UMaine men – even with the loss of star guard Kevin Reed for an estimated six weeks – were selected third in a vote by the conference coaches announced Tuesday by the league.

Foot injury or no, Reed has established himself as a worthwhile all-conference pick as AE’s leading active scorer with 1,179 points and rebounder with 551. The 6-foot-2 guard is also Maine’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals with 235. Last season, the Yarmouth, Mass., native averaged 12.8 points and 6.9 rebounds while leading the conference in defensive boards.

“That kid completely deserves it. He’s going to be among Maine’s career leaders in several categories before he’s done,” said Maine men’s head coach Ted Woodward, whose team will open preseason play against Cape Breton University Thursday in a 7:30 p.m. game at Alfond Arena.

Maine’s men garnered one first-place vote (coaches cannot vote for their own teams) and 46 points to finish behind No. 1 pick Albany (five firsts and 61 points) and Boston University (three and 52).

“Clearly, Albany has the most players back in a year where there are a lot of new players coming into the league,” said Woodward, who will coach seven new players this season and just two returning starters. “Other than them, I really believe the rest of the league is wide open.”

Even the Great Danes have question marks despite the return of four starters, including all-conference picks Jamar Wilson and Lucious Jordan. Albany was a sub .500 team last year at 13-15 overall and 9-9 in AE play and has never won a postseason conference game.

The Black Bears were 14-15 overall and 8-10 in conference play last year, but advanced into the semifinals before losing to Northeastern, which is now a member of the Colonial Athletic Association.

Joining Reed, Wilson, and Jordan on the all-conference preseason team are 2003-04 AE defensive player of the year Shaun Wynn of Boston University and Binghamton guard Andrew Heard.

The rest of the men’s preseason polling is as follows: 4. Binghamton (43), 5. Hartford (41), 6. Vermont (31), 7. Stony Brook University (21), 8. University of Maryland Baltimore County (15), and 9. New Hampshire (14).

On the women’s side, Hartford was the unanimous choice atop the preseason poll with eight first-place votes and 64 points. Maine, under the direction of new coach Ann McInerney, and BU tied for second with 45 apiece. Hartford will host the AE tournament for the fifth straight year at Chase Arena.

The women’s all-conference team includes Hawk starters Erika Messam and Ikea Witt, Katie Meinhardt of BU, Stony Brook’s Mykeema Ford, and Rachel Laws of Binghamton.

The rest of the preseason poll is as follows: 4. New Hampshire (42 points), 5. (tie) Binghamton (1 first-place vote and 36 points) and Stony Brook (36), 7. Vermont (30), 8. Albany (16), and 9. UMBC (10).

The Black Bears start preseason play Monday in Alfond Arena against New Brunswick at 6:30 p.m.