The University of Montana soccer team was picked to finish seventh by the league’s coaches in the 2008 Big Sky Conference pre-season coaches poll the league office announced Tuesday.

The Grizzlies return eight starters and 13 letter-winners from last year’s team that went 3-12-2 and finished eighth in the Big Sky with a 1-4-2 league mark.

Sacramento State was picked to win the league for the second year in a row. The Hornets lived up to the coaches’ pre-season expectations in 2007, winning both the regular- and post-season Big Sky titles and advancing to the NCAA College Cup.

Sac State received five of the eight first-place votes for 45 points.

With 37 points each, Northern Colorado and Weber State tied for second in the poll. The Bears, who advanced to the tournament championship match as the No. 3 seed last November, received two first-place votes, while the Wildcats, the 2007 tournament’s No. 2 seed, earned one.

Northern Arizona, Portland State, Idaho State, Montana and Eastern Washington rounded out the eight-team poll.

Portland State was the No. 4 seed at last year’s four-team post-season tournament.

The top four teams from the regular season will advance to the 2008 Big Sky Conference Tournament, which will be held Nov. 6 and 8 at the site of the regular-season champion.

Montana plays its lone exhibition match Monday evening at 5 p.m. against Carroll.

The Grizzlies open regular-season play Friday, Aug. 22, and Sunday, Aug. 24, against Washington State and Minnesota. Both matches start at 5 p.m. at South Campus Stadium.

2008 Big Sky Conference Pre-season Coaches Poll

1. Sacramento State 45 points (5 first-place votes)

2. Northern Colorado 37 (2)

3. Weber State 37 (1)

4. Northern Arizona 31

5. Portland State 26

6. Idaho State 24

7. Montana 14

8. Eastern Washington 10