POTSDAM -- The SUNY Potsdam men¹s soccer team has been picked to finish 10th in the State University of New York Athletic Conference, according to a preseason poll of the league¹s coaches released Monday.

The Bears, who finished 3-12-1 overall and 1-8 in conference play, earned 12 points in the poll, which assigned points for each vote (10 for first place, nine for second place, etc.). Plattsburgh St., a perennial powerhouse in the conference and an NCAA Division III Tournament qualifier in 2009, topped the poll with 97 points, including seven first-place votes.

Potsdam hopes to achieve progress this season under first-year head coach Adam Parker. A former player and assistant coach at Fredonia, Parker is no stranger to the SUNYAC or the region. He led North Country Community College to a conference title and the program¹s first-ever berth in the regional finals.

Fourth-year seniors Tim Ciampa (Castleton, N.Y.) and Jon Reeves (Macedon, N.Y.) will serve as captains for the 2010 season. Junior Billy Sahler (Greenwood Lake, N.Y.), the team¹s leading scorer in 2009, also returns for the Bears.

The team opens the season this Saturday, Sept. 4, at Scranton (Pa.) at 1 p.m. The Bears open up their home slate on Sept. 24 against Geneseo at 4 p.m.

Here are the complete poll results.

2010 SUNYAC MEN’S PRE-SEASON POLL

1. Plattsburgh 97 (7)

2. Oneonta 84

3. Geneseo 69

4. Brockport 68 (1)

5. Fredonia 66 (1)

6. Cortland 60 (1)

7. Oswego 34

8. New Paltz 33

9. Buffalo State 27

10. Potsdam 12