LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Aug 5) – The California University of Pennsylvania football team was picked to finish second in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West standings for the third-consecutive season, announced the league at PSAC Media Day held on the campus of Lock Haven on Monday afternoon.

The Vulcans rank second in the preseason poll after finishing with a 7-4 overall record and a 5-2 mark in divisional play. Under fourth-year head coach Gary Dunn, Cal U returns 18 starters from last year’s team that won seven of its last nine games after opening the year with back-to-back road losses by a combined eight points.

Slippery Rock was the preseason favorite in the PSAC West with six first-place votes after posting an undefeated divisional record and advancing to the regional final of the NCAA Playoffs. Cal U and IUP both received one first-place vote and were slotted second and third, respectively, while Mercyhurst rounded out the top half of the poll. Edinboro, Gannon, Clarion and Seton Hill completed the preseason poll.

In the PSAC East, West Chester was the preseason favorite with six first-place votes after playing in the PSAC Championship for the third time in four years. League-newcomer Shepherd earned the remaining two first-place votes and ranked second, while Kutztown and Shippensburg rounded out the top half of the poll. Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg, Millersville and Lock Haven completed the poll in the PSAC East.

The PSAC Championship will be played on Nov. 16 at the site of the top team in the PSAC East standings.

Cal U starts the year on Sept. 6 when it travels to play Saint Anselm of the Northeast-10 (NE-10) Conference in Manchester, New Hampshire.