The University of Maine men’s soccer team was picked to finish 10th in the America East preseason coaches poll released Monday.

Northeastern is the favorite, receiving eight of a possible 10 first-place votes and 80 points. Boston University, with one first-place vote and 66 points, was picked second followed by New Hampshire (1 vote, 56 pts.), Vermont (55), Hartford (54), Maryland-Baltimore County (45), Albany (37), Binghamton (25), Stony Brook (17) and Maine (13).

Coach Travers Evans’ Black Bears, who finished 3-11-2 last season, return nine starters in 2003. The Bears open the season Aug. 31 against Canisius in the opening round of the Black Bear Invitational in Orono.