WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University has been voted seventh in the Northeast-10 Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference announced Wednesday. The Falcons open their 2014 campaign one week from Thursday against Dominican (N.Y.) in North Andover, Mass.

Bentley, which has made the NE-10 playoffs six straight times under head coach Gary Crompton, returns seven players that made at least 14 starts last season. Included in that group is senior center back Tom Fitzpatrick (Coventry, Conn./East Catholic), 2013 leading scorer Scott Levy (Canton, Mass./Canton) and starting goalie Jack Blatchford (Douglas, Mass./Douglas).

The defending Division II national champions Southern New Hampshire were voted first, receiving 12 first-place votes and 168 points. Merrimack (146 points), Adelphi (143 points, 2 first-place votes), Southern Connecticut (141), Franklin Pierce (129) and Le Moyne (111) make up the second through sixth positions in the poll. Saint Rose (69) rounds out the top-eight.

The Falcons will get their season started at the Marriott Kickoff Classic in North Andover, which will see them face Dominican on Sept. 4 followed by Caldwell on Sept. 6. Bentley plays its home-opener against New York Tech in a non-conference match on Sept. 10, followed by its Northeast-10 opener against Southern Connecticut on the road on Sept. 13.

2014 Northeast-10 Men's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll
1. Southern New Hampshire – 168 (12)
2. Merrimack – 146
3. Adelphi – 143 (2)
4. Southern Connecticut – 141
5. Franklin Pierce – 129
6. Le Moyne – 111
7. Bentley – 98
8. Saint Rose – 69
9. American Int'l – 68
10. Saint Michael's – 60
11. Stonehill – 48
12. New Haven – 37
13. Assumption – 32
14. Saint Anselm – 24

( ) – indicates first-place votes