After seeing the recently released University Athletic Association (UAA) men's and women's soccer preseason coaches' polls, both New York University clubs will be eager to prove their doubters wrong in 2010.

Coming off a 2-3-2 record in the UAA last season, the NYU men have been picked to finish seventh in the standings this fall, and after finishing 0-6-1 in UAA play last year, the Violet women have been pegged to finish eighth.

Though the struggles each team went through in 2009 likely contributed to their low placement in this year's preseason polls, both NYU sides head into the fall with well-founded optimism.

Head coach Joe Behan's men will be led by a group of seniors who began their careers in 2007 by playing in the NCAA Tournament, as goalkeeper Matt Stieve, defender Nick Coulson, and midfielder Michael Burke enter their final year at NYU.  Though the program hasn't been back to the NCAA Tournament since '07, the Violet seniors know what it takes to compete at the nation's highest level and will be intent on ending their careers on a high note.

Meanwhile, a year after fielding only one senior, head coach Werner T. Dasbach's women will feature nine in 2010.  Led by two-time All-UAA defender Katie Gaston and two-time All-UAA attacker Filiz Kipcakli, the Violets should have the experience and balance to hang with the best the UAA has to offer.

Both NYU sides open their seasons on Sept. 1 in a doubleheader against Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ.  The men will play at 5 p.m., while the women kick off at 7:30 p.m.