LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Aug. 12) – The California (PA) women's soccer team was chosen ninth in the preseason Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West poll released by the league office on Wednesday afternoon.

The Vulcans were previously picked sixth in the preseason poll in each of the last three years. Cal tied for sixth in the PSAC West standings last fall after posting a 2-12-3 overall record, including a 2-9-3 mark in league play.

Slippery Rock was the narrow preseason favorite with five first-place votes. The Rock posted a 12-4-1 overall record last year and secured the top spot in the division. Gannon was slotted second with four first-place votes after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and finishing with a 16-3-2 mark. IUP was positioned third followed by Edinboro at fourth in the preseason poll.

In the PSAC East, West Chester was overwhelming favorite with seven first-place votes. The Golden Rams captured the Atlantic Region Championship for the second time in four years and finished the year with a 16-3-4 overall record. Kutztown finished second in the poll, while Bloomsburg (10-7-2) ranked third behind the remaining first-place vote. Shepherd was slotted fourth in the preseason poll after capturing the PSAC Championship for the first time in program history last fall.

The PSAC West will return to a nine-team division beginning this fall with Lock Haven playing in the West for the first time since 2009. The move comes in response to Lackawanna transitioning to NCAA Division II with the Falcons set to play a divisional schedule against PSAC East opponents.

Led by ninth-year head coach Pete Curtis, Cal starts the season on Aug. 29 when it travels to face Clarion in PSAC West play.