LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The Pacific West Conference has released the preseason poll for women's soccer this morning, and the Lions were placed fifth in the league.  It is the highest placement for VU so far in its stay in the conference after being ninth and 10th over the first two seasons, and the squad picked up 61 points in the 2026 table.
 
The Sea Lions of Point Loma were picked to top the league and got six first-place votes and 95 points, though second and third were much closer.  CUI got only one first-place nod but ended with 84 points to place second, while Hawaii Hilo got three first-place tallies but 81 points to end in third.  Dominican had 66 points to place fourth, and Westmont was sixth with 50 points.
 
The Lions open the year with an old foe who recently secured its active membership in Division II, as UC Merced arrives on August 27 for a 1:30 p.m. match.  Contests against CSU Dominguez Hills and CSU San Bernardino on August 29 and September 3 follow, with road trips to CSU San Marcos and CSULA on the docket over the next few weeks.  Both of those received votes in the first coaches' poll, and are the highest-ranked teams in the early-season schedule that VU faces.