The Niagara men’s soccer team was picked fourth in the 2010 MAAC Preseason Poll voted on by the league’s 10 head coaches announced on Wednesday. Senior midfielder Levi Tesch was selected to the Preseason All-MAAC Team for the second-straight season.

Niagara head coach Dermot McGrane led the Purple Eagles to their first-ever MAAC Championship Final last season where they fell in overtime to the Loyola Greyhounds. Loyola has been picked to repeat, claiming 96 points to earn the top spot in the poll, while Fairfield and Iona tied for second place with 81 points.

NU was picked fourth with 64 points and was followed by Marist (55), Siena (54), Saint Peter’s (45), Canisius (33), Rider (25) and Manhattan (18).
Tesch finished last season third on the team with five goals and 11 assists on his way to being named to the All-MAAC First Team. Loyola’s forward Phil Bannister was named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year.

The Purple Eagles begin their season at Cleveland State on Sept. 5 at 3 p.m.