LONG BEACH, Calif. -- This afternoon, women's soccer was on full display as the Pacific West Conference released the preseason poll for the upcoming 2025 campaign. Eager to build on last year's debut season, the Vanguard Lions are positioned in tenth, earning 66 points in the 13-team conference. The Blue and Gold narrowly trailed Fresno Pacific (67 points) in ninth but maintained positions ahead of Hawaii Pacific (42 points), Jessup (29 points), and Menlo (25 points) in the final three slots of the poll.  You can read the full PacWest release

The bout at the top remains centered around the two-time defending champions, Point Loma, as the Sea Lions seized nine of the 13 first-place votes, leading the poll as favorites to three-peat with 165 points. Sandwiched behind them were the 2024 joint runners-up in Concordia and Hawaii Hilo. Both programs ended the season with identical conference records (9-1-1) and were separated in the preseason poll by just two points, with CUI set at 150 points (two first-place votes) and the Vulcans notched at 148 (two first-place votes).

Azusa Pacific just missed out on a conference tournament berth last year but was selected to secure a PacWest postseason spot in 2025, placing fourth in the preseason rankings with 128 points. The midtable predictions were led by Westmont (110 points) while Chaminade (96 points), Biola (90 points), and Dominican (69 points) filled out the remaining teams. 

The Lions had a top-five defense in the PacWest last season and brought back 20 returners to reinforce their persistent defensive unit. The roster also introduces eight new recruits to help improve on a 3-10-2 record from 2024. In addition, Head Coach Emily Reynolds adds the aid of new assistant coach Noanne Rosse, as the Blue and Gold prepare for their season to kick off at CSU San Bernardino on Thursday, September 4, at 2 pm.