UH-Hilo men’s soccer voted No. 9 in preseason PacWest coaches poll

The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo men’s soccer squad was voted No. 9 in the Pacific West Conference 2023 preseason coaches poll. The Vulcans finished the 2022 season at No. 8.

Topping the poll was Dominican, which was the surprise team in the PacWest last season. The Penguins won a share of the PacWest title with Biola in 2022 after being ranked No. 7 in the 2022 preseason poll, but they won’t sneak up on anyone this year.

Although, it was far from unanimous.

In one of the closest votes since the polls began, Dominican edged out Point Loma and Biola for the No. 1 position.

2023 PacWest preseason coaches poll standings and total votes (first-place votes in parenthesis):

1. Dominican (5): 109
2. Point Loma (3): 103
3. Biola (3): 100
4. Concordia: 84
5. Azusa Pacific: 80
6. Hawai`i Pacific: 68
7. Westmont: 60
8. Fresno Pacific: 39
9. UH-Hilo: 37
10. Academy of Art: 24
11. Chaminade: 22

Action for the 2023 soccer season gets underway later this week.

A number of intriguing matchups are on this week’s slate, including Biola and Point Loma playing at California Collegiate Athletic Association preseason favorite Cal Poly Pomona. Dominican opens at home against Cal State East Bay and Cal Poly Humboldt.

Concordia hosts Cal State San Marcos, while Azusa Pacific opens with Cal State Dominguez Hills. HPU welcomes Northwest Nazarene to open 2023, while Westmont begins their Division II era by hosting St. Martin’s.

Fresno Pacific kicks off 2023 at The Master’s, UH-Hilo hosts Western Oregon on O‘ahu, Academy of Art plays Cal Poly Humboldt and Chaminade begins play against Northwest Nazarene.