LA MIRADA, Calif. --- On Monday and Tuesday of this week the PacWest Conference announced it's annual preseason coaches' polls and preseason all-conference honors for women's and men's soccer.

Katelyn Penner carried the torch for the Biola women, landing a spot on the Preseason All-PacWest team. Newcomer Lawrence Kwazema represented the men by taking preseason all-conference honors.

Both Biola programs were selected by the conference coaches to finish third among the 10 participating PacWest soccer institutions. The Eagles were selected to finish third in the SoCal pod behind Concordia Irvine and Point Loma. Azusa Pacific is not participating in the "official" conference season, but will be playing Biola in both men and women's soccer later in the year.

For Penner, this selection follows back-to-back All-PacWest First Team selections for the 2018 and 2019 soccer seasons. The junior midfielder will begin the 2021 campaign as a top-5 player in the conference after earning all-region honors last year.

She's started 35 matches over the first two seasons of her Biola career, logging over 3,200 minutes and helping the Eagles to an 18-12-6 overall record from 2018-19. Penner has scored six goals and assisted four others headed into 2021.

Kwazema is brand new to Biola, joining this fall with the addition of Head Coach Torrey Stricklin. He comes to the Eagles following two seasons at NCAA Division I Northern Illinois.

Over the last two seasons with Huskies, Kwazema logged 17 starts and appeared in 32 matches. He earned Academic All-MAC honors and helped lead the Huskies to 15 victories.

With nearly 1,900 NCAA Division I minutes under his belt, Kwazema will surely be one to watch this season. He's clearly already caught the eye of the head coaches in the PacWest in order to take home this preseason honor.

Last season Biola Men's Soccer finished sixth in the league with a 6-3-2 conference record and Biola Women's Soccer ended with an 8-2-1 conference mark to place third in league.

Biola Men's Soccer opens its 2021 season with a 6 p.m. match vs. Westmont at home on Jan. 26, 2021. Biola Women's Soccer opens its 2021 season with a 7 p.m. match vs. Vanguard on Jan. 28, 2021.

2021 Preseason All-PacWest Teams
Men
GK – Patrick Timmer, Fresno Pacific (Goalkeeper of the Year)
D – Jake Eisenberg, Point Loma (Defender of the Year)
D – Caesar Angulo, Fresno Pacific
D – Nick Aquino, Concordia
D – Jacob Moreno, Point Loma
M – Gerrit Arzberger, Hawai`i Pacific
M – Michael Oakson, Concordia
M – Willy Ospina, Concordia
M – Lawrence Kwazema, Biola
F – Tim Siegfried, Point Loma (Player of the Year)
F – Hunter Loomis, Point Loma
F – Fellipe Souza, Fresno Pacific
F – Luke Ryan, Concordia


Women
GK – Emma Hinson, Point Loma (Goalkeeper of the Year)
D – Lauren O'Malley, Point Loma (Player and Defender of the Year)
D – Jodi Lillie, Hawai`i Hilo
D – Molly Melanson, Concordia
D – Aiden Marquez, Dominican
M – Makenna Herrero, Point Loma
M – Hailey Clifford, Point Loma
M – Sydney Cooke, Academy of Art
M – Katelyn Penner, Biola
F – Jadenn Carrillo, Concordia
F – Rachel Carrell, Point Loma
F – Carmany Jones, Concordia
F – Ashlee Watkins, Point Loma

Preseason Coaches' Polls
Men
1. Concordia Irvine
2. Point Loma
3. Biola
4. Dominican
5. Fresno Pacific
6. Hawaii Pacific
7. Chaminade
8. Hawaii Hilo
9. Holy Names
10. Academy of Art

Women
1. Point Loma
2. Concordia Irvine
3. Biola
4. Fresno Pacific
5. Hawaii Hilo
6. Hawaii Pacific
7. Dominican
8. Academy of Art
9. Chaminade
10. Holy Names