HONOLULU—As announced by the Big West Conference on Thursday, the University of Hawai'i soccer team was selected at No. 7 in the Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
Defending regular-season and conference tournament champion Long Beach State was selected at No.1 overall with five first-place votes. UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, and Cal State Fullerton rounded out the top four spots in the poll.
 
Last season UH was knocking at the door of the top four slots and claiming the program's first-ever Big West Conference tournament bid, but fell short in the final match of the season, finishing at No. 5 overall.
 
The Rainbow Wahine return 18 players from a year ago, including 2018 Big West Honorable Mention, senior goalkeeper Alexis Mata and Big West All-Freshmen team member Elena Palacios. No UH players were selected to the Preseason All-Conference team.
 
UH will open up regular season play on Aug. 22 by hosting No. 5 USC in the Outrigger Soccer Kickoff. The match will be played at the grass practice field located next to the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on Lower Campus Rd of UH Manoa's campus.