LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – The Siena Men’s Soccer team was projected to finish fifth in the MAAC this fall, according to the preseason coaches’ poll released Monday. Senior captain James Beeston and red-shirt junior center back Falko Friedrichs represented the Saints on the Preseason All-MAAC Team.

New MAAC member Monmouth, which won seven Northeast Conference regular season and four tournament championships over the past decade, was the favorite to win the league in its inaugural season. The Hawks received 111 votes in the polling, edging out perennial power Iona (110).

Fairfield, which hosts the MAAC Championships Nov. 15-17, was selected third (97), followed by defending conference champion Niagara (78) and the Saints (76) to round out the top-five. New MAAC school Quinnipiac (72), Canisius (48), Marist (46), Saint Peter’s (34), Manhattan (30) and Rider (24) rounded out the 11-team poll.

A native of Newcastle-Under-Lyme England, Beeston is one of just 30 candidates nationally for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award. Last season Beeston was named a First Team All-MAAC, All-MAAC Tournament Team and an NSCAA North Atlantic Third Team selection. The midfielder led the MAAC for the second time in three years in assists last season (eight) and enters his final go-around in Loudonville with 21 career helpers which ranks second most in program history. 

Friedrichs earned Second Team All-MAAC honors last fall after totaling seven points which included a pair of game-winning goals. The Cologne, Germany native was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team in 2011.

Siena finished 10-7 overall last season and second in the MAAC with a 6-1 conference mark. The Saints’ .857 MAAC winning percentage was the best in program history. First-year head coach Cesar Markovic and the Saints kick off their 2013 season Sunday at 1 p.m. at Sacred Heart. 

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