HAYWARD, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay women's soccer team will kickoff their 2019 season with a home matches against the visiting Argonauts of Norte Dame De Namur on Thursday night and against the Vulcans of Hawai'i Hilo on Monday afternoon. Both games will take place in Pioneer Stadium.
 
Under second year Head Coach Robin Hart will look to take another step toward the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) crown after leading CSUEB to a 7-8-3 record in her first season. The Pioneers were picked to finish 10th in the 2019 CCAA Preseason Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
Abby Buitrago leads all returners with five goals in 2018, while Chase Miguel finished with 10 total points, including four goals and two assists, good for third on the team. Liz Hernandez, Lauren McDougal, Eliana Mendoza, Ally Smith, Bri Vallente, Jordan Lemieux, Kellie Murphy, Kayla Morales, Andrea Aborqui, Annika Blom will all look to provide veteran leadership to the 2019 Pioneer Women's soccer team.
 
Returning goalkeepers Briana Vasquez-Ortiz and Jennifer Parker will anchor the defense for East Bay. Vasquez-Ortiz led the Pioneers with 73 saves and a 7-8-1 record in 2018.
 
Newcomers Cindy Vasquez, Riley Spitzer, Lucy Artman, Lauren Inman, Jill Nelsen, Natalie Stevens, Maya Lawrence, Maya Farkas, Sarah Frahm, Nicole Ferriolo and Jordan Smith will look to add their talents to a terrific returning roster.
 
Notre Dame De Namur was picked to finish 8th in the PacWest after finishing 2018 with a 5-13 mark on the season with a 4-7 record in conference action. The Argonauts return two All-PacWest team honorees in Susan Whitney and Vanessa Sanchez. Whitney's eight goals and 20 points ranked second in the conference and she leads all active players in the PacWest in career points with 51. Sanchez is the PacWest's all-time leader in assists with 24 and finished the season with a team high five and ranked second in the conference. 
 
Hawai'i Hilo was tabbed for a 6th place finish in the PacWest after completing the 2018 year with a 10-4-2 record on the season and a 7-3-1 mark in conference play. After finishing in a tie for second place in the conference standings last year, Hawai`i Hilo is picked sixth in the preseason poll. Jodi Lillie was voted by the coaches to the preseason All-PacWest team after being a first-team all-conference defender as a freshman. However, the Vulcans lost two first-team selections to graduation along with their leading goal-scorer from last year.
 
East Bay has a 2-4-1 record against Notre Dame De Namur all time with a 1-1-1 mark on games played in Hayward and the Pioneers are 1-1-1 all-time against Hawai'i Hilo with a 1-1 showing in games at Pioneer Stadium.