IRVINE, Calif. -- After reaching the NCAA West Regional championship game last year, Point Loma has been selected as the PacWest's preseason favorite ahead of the Spring 2021 women's soccer season. The Sea Lions won all three special awards for the preseason with Lauren O'Malley being selected as Player and Defender of the Year, while Emma Hinson is the Goalkeeper of the Year as voted on by the PacWest coaches.

Teams will play one home and one away game against each team within their pod for the upcoming season. The Southern California Pod will have Biola, Concordia and Point Loma, which are the top-3 teams in the preseason poll. The Northern California Pod will have Academy of Art, Dominican, Fresno Pacific and Holy Names. The Hawai`i Pod will have Chaminade, Hawai`i Hilo and Hawai`i Pacific.

Point Loma won the PacWest last year to earn the league's automatic bid in the NCAA West Regional, where they eliminated Cal Poly Pomona and UC San Diego to earn a spot in the championship game. They return six players that were named to the Preseason All-PacWest Team, including Preseason Player of the Year O'Malley, whose defense along with goalkeeper Hinson was a key part of the Sea Lions' success last season.

Concordia is picked second in the preseason poll and returns Jadenn Carrillo, who had 23 points last year, which is the most among returning players. Biola is picked third and represented on the Preseason All-PacWest team by Katelyn Penner, who helped the Eagles go 8-2-1 in conference play last year.

Fresno Pacific is the favorite in the PacWest Northern California Pod and is picked fourth overall. The Sunbirds have won 20 conference games over the last three seasons. Dominican is picked seventh followed by Academy of Art and Holy Names in the Northern California Pod. Academy of Art's Sydney Cooke was voted onto the All-PacWest preseason team.

Hawai`i Hilo is the preseason favorite in the Hawai`i Pod with Jodi Lillie representing the Vulcans on the preseason team. Hawai`i Pacific is picked next at sixth overall, while Chaminade completes the PacWest Pod.

Teams in the Northern California Pod will play six games, while the Southern California and Hawai`i pods are scheduled to play four games this season.

PRESEASON ALL-PACWEST WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM
GK – Emma Hinson, Point Loma (Goalkeeper of the Year)
D – Lauren O’Malley, Point Loma (Player and Defender of the Year)
D – Jodi Lillie, Hawai`i Hilo
D – Molly Melanson, Concordia
D – Aiden Marquez, Dominican
M – Makenna Herrero, Point Loma
M – Hailey Clifford, Point Loma
M – Sydney Cooke, Academy of Art
M – Katelyn Penner, Biola
F – Jadenn Carrillo, Concordia
F – Rachel Carrell, Point Loma
F – Carmany Jones, Concordia
F – Ashlee Watkins, Point Loma