The Point Loma women’s soccer team was selected to defend their conference title, earning 11 of the 14 first-place votes, in the annual preseason PacWest coaches’ poll that was released Tuesday, Aug. 18.
“It is an honor to be picked first but last year doesn’t mean anything,” said Point Loma head women’s soccer coach Tim Hall. “This is a great soccer conference and there are many teams that can win the league this season. The poll is nice but we have to go out there and once again prove ourselves on the field.”
PLNU captured its first league title last season with an undefeated 11-0-1 record (12-4-1 overall), the first unbeaten conference mark since 2006. The Sea Lions earned the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA West Regional.
In addition to PLNU being picked as preseason favorites, Dottie Rhoten and Ariel Oriarte were named the PacWest Defender and Goalkeeper of the Year, respectively. Both student-athletes also earned preseason all-conference honors along with their teammates Shelby Murphy (F) and Sami Swanson (MF). 
PLNU will return nine starters and 15 letterwinners from its 2014 squad. Point Loma will open the season on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Cal State Dominguez Hills.