Stanislaus State begins the 2016 regular season this week with two matches at Cal State Hayward's Pioneer Stadium. The Warriors also play a non-conference game at Fresno Pacific on Monday before their home opener next Friday.

Team Records: 0-0-0. 0-0-0 CCAA (1st) [CCAA Standings]

Thursday
Warriors vs. Northwest Nazarene (0-0-0), Hayward, 4:30 p.m. | [Live Stats] 

Saturday
Warriors vs. Colorado Mesa (0-0-0), Hayward, 4:30 p.m. | [Live Stats] 

Monday
Warriors at Fresno Pacific (0-0-0), Fresno, 7 p.m. | [Live Stats] 

Series Notes: The Warriors are undefeated against Northwest Nazarene in three previous meetings (3-0-0). Teams have not played each other since 2009, a 4-0 Stanislaus win on Sept. 7, in Nampa, Idaho. The Warriors also won on Aug. 28, 2008 in a 9-2 blow-out at home … Stan State and Colorado Mesa are meeting for the first time since 2007. Colorado Mesa (formerly Mesa State) visited the Warriors on Sept. 30, 2007 in a 2-1 Stanislaus victory … The Warriors are 6-0-0 against Fresno Pacific with the most recent contest a year ago at Warrior Stadium (Sept. 5), a 4-1 Stan State win.

CCAA Preseason Poll: Despite finishing second as the CCAA championship tournament runner-up, Stanislaus State was picked to finish fifth overall in the regular season in the CCAA coaches preseason poll. The Warriors were selected behind UC San Diego, Sonoma State, Cal State L.A., and Chico State. "We are looking forward to proving them wrong," head coach Gabriel Bolton said.

Squarcia's Return: After missing the final seven matches of the 2015 season due to a shoulder injury, Gabby Squarcia has fully recovered and looking better than ever during preseason training and scrimmages. Squarcia scored five goals with five assists last season and scored twice in that Sept. 5 win over Fresno Pacific last year.

Top Scorers Up Front: Both Jade Poon and Kirsten Coleman are looking to chase down the No. 2 spot in the Stanislaus State record books in 2016. Entering the year, Coleman has 21 and Poon 20 career goals as they trail Marti Teunissen (2003-06), who had 28. The career record is a little bit out of reach, however, as Karenee Demery holds that mark with 75 career scores.

Who's in Goal? One of the biggest question marks this preseason was who will be the goalie as three redshirts (Morgan Cruce, Haley Crook, Alyssa Herrman) and a true freshman (Alexa Gisin) have been competing for the net-minder job.  The quality-talent level has resulted in a great competition for the starting position. Crook might have the current edge as she started the most recent scrimmage, but Cruce and Gisin also played significant minutes (Herrman did not suit-up).

Playing Close to Home: This will be the first year that the Warriors won't have to travel more than two hours to play a regular season opener as they are driving to Hayward for the first two contests. In 2014, Stan State opened in Riverside and in 2012, the Warriors began the year in Lacey, Wash. Every other year, since 2006, Stanislaus began the schedule at home.

About Northwest Nazarene: The Crusaders is led by junior goalkeeper Daniele Ortiz. She led the GNAC in saves each of the last two seasons … NNU is picked to finish eighth out of nine teams in the GNAC preseason poll. They finished 5-11-1 overall in 2015.

About Colorado Mesa: The Mavericks will be led by Janelle Richmond-Buccola, who was voted as the RMAC's preseason Goalkeeper of the Year after starting in every match as a freshman a year ago. She had a 1.31 GAA … Colorado Mesa posted a 4-10-4 record last season.

About Fresno Pacific: The Sunbirds will be led by Mariah Montoya and Alyssa Nakaguchi, both preseason All-PacWest picks. Montoya had four goals and six assists in 2015 … FPU (9-6-2 in 2015) was picked to finish sixth in the PacWest preseason poll.