SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team kicks off its inaugural season of NCAA Division II status this week with two matches on the road against former NAIA foes San Diego Christian and Biola.

The Schedule
Match 1
Thursday, Sept. 3 – 12:30 p.m.
Cal State San Marcos (0-0) at San Diego Christian (1-0)
Santee, Calif. – Santee Sportsplex
Live Stats | Live Video

Match 2
Saturday, Sept. 5 – 4:30 p.m.
Cal State San Marcos (0-0) at Biola (2-0-1)
La Mirada, Calif. – Al Barbour Field
Live Stats | Live Video

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Home Opener – Sept. 9
The Cougars will play at home for the first time on Wednesday, Sept. 9 against Concordia (Calif.) at The Cougar Den. General admission tickets are $5 and kids (12 & younger) are $3. As always, kids 12 & under wearing their youth team jersey will receive free entry. For more ticket information, click here.

New Territory
After nine seasons of competition in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the Cougars enter their first season of NCAA Division II competition in 2015. CSUSM is currently in the second year of a three-year transition to full NCAA Division II membership. As a part of the transition, the Cougars will be ineligible for postseason play in 2015 and 2016.

New Conference
Cal State San Marcos is a part of the 13-team California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), made up of 12 CSU institutions and UC San Diego. The CCAA is one of the premier NCAA Division II leagues in the nation. Its teams have won more national championships (153) than any other conference.

Preseason CCAA Coaches Poll
The Cougars came in ranked No. 11 in the 2015 CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll released last week. The Cougars received 37 total points and finished ahead of Humboldt State and Cal State Dominguez Hills. Cal State L.A. was picked to win the conference for the third year in a row. It is the first season in which CSUSM is competing in the CCAA.

The Returners
The Cougars won't lack experience as they return 20 letter-winners from last year's squad that won the A.I.I. Conference title and advanced to the NAIA Second Round. Leading goal scorer, NAIA All-American and A.I.I. Player of the Year Paulina Good returns for her senior season, as does A.I.I. first-teamer Natalie Lara. Brooke Carter, an All-A.I.I. Second Team selection, will be the veteran for a Cougar backline that will also feature sophomore Morgan Simmons, who came on strong late in 2014.

The Newbies
The Cougars will have a total of 10 new faces on this year's roster - eight freshmen and two transfers. Senior Paulina Salazar returns to her home after spending a year at Regis University (Colo.), where she scored three goals and added a team-high four assists. The eight new freshmen are goalkeeper Allie Jara, midfielder Tiffany Jackson, midfielder Emily Haugen, midfielder Elizabeth Maass, defender Jenna Hernandez, forward Valerie Koerber, midfielder Caitlin Gharibeh and forward Estefany Avonce.

San Diego Christian Preview
All-time vs. SDCC: 4-1-2
Last time out: T, 0-0 (2 OT), Oct. 24, 2014; The Cougars and Hawks battled to a 0-0 draw at The Cougar Den last season, despite the Cougars outshooting SDCC, 11-6. The tie increased CSUSM's unbeaten streak to eight matches.
SDCC Breakdown: The Hawks started the year off with a 2-0 victory over NCAA Division III's La Verne on Aug. 26. Alejandra Gonzalez and Samantha Schmidt scored for SDCC.

Biola Preview
All-time vs. Biola: 2-4-2
Last time out: W, 2-0, Sept. 20, 2014; Good scored two second-half goals as the Cougars handed the Eagles their first loss of the 2014 campaign while snapping a two-game skid. The win marked the first game of a program-record 13-match unbeaten streak for CSUSM.
Biola breakdown: Biola, undefeated and ranked No. 22 in the NAIA preseason poll, has outscored its opponents 10-2 so far this season. On Aug. 28, the Eagles tied No. 2 Northwestern Ohio, 2-2. Samantha Verduzco leads the Eagles with four goals so far this year.

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