The Pacific women's soccer program is building confidence. 
 
After tying their final two games last fall and then winning the spring game, the Boxers went 3-0 in exhibition matches.
 
"I think we've got a good belief right now and kind of a vision of where we can go and how we can progress, and we're definitely confident we can be an improved team this year and take a step forward," said Kellan McNamara, who enters his second season as Pacific's head coach.
 
"I'm very excited about the team. A lot of potential. We've done a lot of hard work over the last eight months since the previous season. I'm just excited to see where we can go from here."
 
The Boxers return 16 players who started at least one match last season and have added 10 new players, including eight freshmen.
 
Pacific did not allow a goal in its three exhibition matches.
 
Senior Kylie Pascual and sophomore Jaelynn Moo have split time at goalkeeper. 
 
Captain Ruby Waters returns on the back line after starting 18 games last season.
 
"We've been organized defensively in our first two games, all 11 players, very connected, defensively, very organized," McNamara said. 
 
The Boxers return two All-Northwest Conference players in senior captain Mirella Garcia and sophomore Rissalyn Hara. 
 
Garcia scored seven of Pacific's 14 goals last season.
 
"She's huge for us," McNamara said of Garcia. "She's massive for us. She's a leader, very competitive, focused, loves to play, loves the game. just a great player, and we'll be leaning on her for sure."
 
After missing most of last season with a broken leg, center midfielder Taite Taniguchi is back and looking as strong as ever.
 
"She hasn't missed a beat," McNamara said. "She's good in possession. She's small, but she's tenacious. She's good defensively, really fit, covers a lot of ground."
 
Pacific opens the 2025 season Friday at home against Chapman.
 
"I feel like we're all on the same page a little bit more," McNamara said. "There's just a little bit more continuity. People know what to expect from one another. Expectations are a little bit clearer."
 
The Boxers were picked to finish eighth in the 2025 NWC preseason coaches poll after posting a 2-11-3 record last season.
 
Six of the losses came by just a single goal.
 
"We have a very competitive conference," McNamara said. "Last year, we finished near to bottom, but we were in every game. We pretty much had a chance. That mental toughness, that resiliency, if we can take a step forward in that, there's a lot of potential for us to turn those losses into ties, ties into wins and make a big improvement.
 
"It's going to be a battle, but we're excited, and we feel more ready for it this year."