Women's Soccer Picked to Finish 2nd in CCAA; Four Pioneers on Preseason Watchlist
ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - This week, the 2025 CCAA Women's Soccer Preseason Poll was announced. Cal State East Bay was picked to finish second in the standings. In the first United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Poll, the Pioneers are receiving votes.
In 2024, second in the standings was where the Pioneers finished, only second to 2024 NCAA Division II National Champion Cal Poly Pomona. The second place finish was attributued to going unbeaten in the final eight regular season matches to make a postseason push. East Bay carried the late season success into the CCAA Tournament with a semifinal win. The Pioneers' season though ultimately ended in the CCAA Championship Match with a loss to Cal Poly Pomona.
Anne Whipple enters her second season at the helm for the Pioneers and brings back several regular starters from the amazing 2024 season. Four of those returners are on the CCAA Preseason Watchlist, including Abigail Kern, Morgan Pearson, Mika Sayfurahman and Jaeden Nelson.
The 2025 season kicks off on Thursday, September 4 with a non-conference road match at UC Colorado Springs.
| 2025 CCAA Women's Soccer Preseason Poll | |
| #1 Cal Poly Pomona (9) | 141 |
| RV Cal State East Bay | 118 |
| RV Cal State LA (1) | 110 |
| Stanislaus State (1) | 110 |
| Cal State San Marcos (1) | 84 |
| Cal Poly Humboldt | 83 |
| Cal State Monterey Bay | 81 |
| Cal State San Bernardino | 56 |
| Cal State Dominguez Hills | 55 |
| Chico State | 49 |
| UC Merced | 28 |
| San Francisco State | 21 |
| First-place votes in parentheses. | |
Latest Women's Soccer
- Pioneer Spotlight: Jacob Hugger – Voice of the PioneersThe 2025-26 athletic year is quickly approaching for Cal State East Bay, and with it comes 14 Pioneer teams in action with the first contest taking place on Thursday, September 4.
- Pioneer Teams and Student-Athletes Collect a Variety of Academic Awards in 2024-25In 2024-25, the academic year once again was outstanding for many Cal State East Bay student-athletes and teams.
- Pioneer Women’s Soccer Standout Mika Sayfurahman Named USL W NorCal Division Player of the YearTAMPA, Fla. – The USL W announced several awards for its 2025 season this week. Mika Sayfurahman, from Cal State East Bay women's soccer, has added to her collection as a Pioneer with a pair of honors as a member of Stockton Cargo SC, a member club in the USL W NorCal Division. For her outstanding 2025 season with Stockton, Sayfurahman was named USL W NorCal Division Player of the Year and All-League First Team.
- Cal State East Bay Finishes 4th in 2024-25 Hiegert Cup StandingsALISO VIEJO, Calif. - With the 2024-25 athletic year complete in NCAA Division II, the CCAA announced its final standings for the year for the Robert J. Hiegert Commissioner's Cup. Since joining the CCAA, Cal State East Bay had its highest finish in department history, placing fourth among the 12 CCAA member institutions.
- Announcing the 2024-25 Cal State East Bay Athletic AwardsOn Sunday evening inside Pioneer Gymnasium, Cal State East Bay hosted its Pioneer Athletic Awards Banquet, for the first time named 'The Pios'. Student-athletes from Cal State East Bay were honored for athletic, academic and community impact. Men's soccer goalkeeper and 2024-25 SAAC President Kelekolio Mateo Jr. was the emcee for the special event.
- Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Summer JacksonWhen Dr. Summer Jackson stepped into the role of Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) at Cal State East Bay in 2023, it was more than a professional milestone—it was a full-circle moment. A former Division I swimmer at the University of Arkansas and a proud inductee into the Sequim (Washington) Hall of Fame's inaugural class for her swimming accomplishments, Dr. Jackson brought with her not only an impressive academic background but a deeply personal connection to the student-athlete journey.
