LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Aug. 13) – The California (PA) women's soccer team was picked to finish sixth in the preseason Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West poll announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon.

The Vulcans finished ninth in the divisional standings last year with six points behind a 1-12-3 record in league play and posted a 2-12-3 overall mark.

Gannon was the preseason favorite in the PSAC West with six first-place votes after advancing to the national quarterfinals last fall. Seton Hill and Slippery Rock ranked second and third, respectively, with each school earning a single first-place vote. IUP rounded out the top half of the preseason poll in the division.

In the PSAC East, two-time, defending-PSAC Champion West Chester was the preseason favorite after receiving five first-place votes. Kutztown was positioned second behind three first-place votes after finishing last year with an unbeaten mark in divisional play. East Stroudsburg and Bloomsburg were slotted third and fourth, respectively, while Shepherd ranked fifth and earned the remaining first-place vote.

The PSAC West will have two fewer league games in 2024 due to Mercyhurst moving to the NCAA Division I level.

Under seventh-year head coach Pete Curtis, the Vulcans start the season on Sept. 5 when they travel to face Lock Haven in non-conference action at 3 p.m.