Orono, ME – The America East Conference announced the 2023 preseason poll on Thursday afternoon and the Black Bears are ranked third in the voting with 47 points and one first place vote.
Maine is coming off of their most successful season in eight years, which included a 9-3-5 record and a trip to the America East semifinals, their first appearance in the game since 2015.
The Black Bears are returning their second leading scoring from a season ago in Junior, Abby Kraemer and their fourth leader in total points in her older sister, Senior, Kayla Kraemer. Maine also returns the America East Goalkeeper of the Year, Kira Kutzinski. In 2022, Kutzinski allowed just 0.59 goals per game, she posted seven shutouts and had a .817 save %.
Topping the preseason poll is Binghamton with 60 points and four first place votes. Close behind them is New Hampshire with 59 points and four first place votes. The Black Bears round out the top-three in voting with a third place spot with 47 points and the final first place vote.
The full preseason poll is listed below:
Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll
| Pl. | School | Points (1st) |
| 1. | Binghamton | 60 (4) |
| 2. | New Hampshire | 59 (4) |
| 3. | Maine | 47 (1) |
| 4. | UMass Lowell | 44 |
| 5. | UAlbany | 38 |
| 6. | NJIT | 27 |
| 7. | Vermont | 21 |
| 8. | UMBC | 19 |
| 9. | Bryant | 9 |
-UMaine-
