The University of Maine’s defending two-time America East women’s soccer champion soccer team was picked to finish third in the league in a preseason coaches poll released on Tuesday.
Binghamton and New Hampshire were the co-favorites as each amassed 55 points in the poll, three more than the Black Bears.
However, UMaine received the most first-place votes with four while UNH and Binghamton each received two. There are nine teams in the conference and each head coach gets to vote in the poll. Coaches cannot vote for their own teams and each team amasses points based on how high each opposing coach ranks them.
UMaine head coach Scott Atherley said the fact that four teams received first place votes and five teams earned at least 39 points speaks to the parity in the conference.
“One of the things I’ve always said about the America East conference regarding women’s soccer is that on any given day, any team can win,” said Atherley. “There is not much that separates the six that qualify and the three that don’t get in [to the playoffs].”
UMass Lowell was fourth in the poll with 46 points and the River Hawks received the other first-place vote.
Vermont was fifth with 39 points followed by Bryant (25), the New Jersey Institute of Technology (32), Albany (19) and the University of Maryland Baltimore County (11).
Atherley said he doesn’t put any stock in preseason polls.
“I don’t pay much attention to it,” Atherley said. “They’re kind of a reflection on where you finished the previous season.”
Three UMaine players were also chosen to the All-America East preseason team: senior forward Jordane Pinette, senior left back Rebecca Grisdale and sophomore goalie Grace Wilson.
The Black Bears went 13-2-3 last season and were 7-0-1 in conference regular season play to earn the top seed for the tournament.
They beat UMass Lowell 2-0 in the conference semifinals and UNH 3-0 in the conference title game before losing to Wisconsin 3-1 in the NCAA Tournament.
Seven Black Bears earned All-America first or second team honors and six of them have graduated including two-time All-American striker Abby Kraemer.
Pinette was a second team selection.
She is the only returnee among the five players who registered double-digit points a year. She scored six goals and assisted on three others for 15 points, good enough for third on the team behind Kraemer (7 goals, 5 assists, 19 points) and midfielder Lara Kirkby (6-4-16).
All six of Pinette’s goals were game-winners, which led the team and was tied for seventh in the country among players at 339 Division I schools.
Grisdale helped anchor a back line that allowed only 15 goals in 18 games. The Black Bears’ .833 goals-against average was tied for 40th in the nation.
Wilson appeared in one regular season game before being thrust into action in the playoffs after starting goalkeeper Jessica Kasacek left due to a family emergency.
Wilson made one save in the semifinal win over UMass Lowell, five in the title game victory over New Hampshire and nine in the loss to Wisconsin. One of the saves against Wisconsin off a penalty kick.
Atherley said he has five returning players who were freshmen a year ago that will surprise people.
“We felt we brought in a really talented class last year and they just couldn’t get on the field because of who was in front of them,” said Atherley. “Rather than going into the transfer portal, they took everything in and had great mentorship within the culture of our team to see what it takes.”
He was referring to Wilson, striker Aja Turner, midfielder Emma Nicholson, defender Olivia Grisdale and midfielder Olivia Scott, a former Bangor High standout.
“Now, with a year’s experience and having been humbled a little bit and having to fight [for playing time], I think those players are going to stand out for us this year,” Atherley said. “People are going to say, ‘Where did they come from?”
He has also added a Baylor University transfer in Hilary Washington, who is a sophomore defender.
UMaine opens the season when it hosts Rhode Island at noon on Sunday, Aug. 17.
