LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. – Coming off a SCIAC Tournament championship and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, Cal Lutheran women's soccer has been picked to finish first in the 2026 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) preseason coaches poll, earning 76 points and four first-place votes.

The Regals narrowly edged Pomona-Pitzer, which collected 73 points and four first-place votes, while Claremont-Mudd-Scripps followed in third with 67 points and one first-place vote. Chapman (53), Occidental (38), La Verne (36), Whittier (33), Redlands (20) and Caltech (10) rounded out the poll.

Cal Lutheran enters the season ranked No. 14 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches/Intercollegiate Women's Soccer Organization for Coaches (IWSOC) Division III Preseason Poll and returns a veteran core from last year's 17-3-2 squad alongside a solid incoming class.

The Regals will look to build on their conference championship as they enter the 2026 season with an NCAA Tournament appearance in their sights.

Cal Lutheran's exhibition slate concluded Monday evening, and the Regals officially open the regular season on Thursday, September 3, hosting Concordia University Texas.