Thursday night, the Pacific Tigers will step onto the unfamiliar turf of Hornet Field for their season‑opening road contest against Sacramento State, marking the first away game for the program since 2022.
A New Era for the Tigers
Coach Tim Strader, in his inaugural year with the Hornets, hopes to lift the team out of a 6‑11‑1 finish from 2025, while the Tigers bring back two of their most potent attackers.
Whitney Garn and Kaya Rosa, who each found the net twice in the 2025 campaign, headline a returning core that accounted for half of the team’s goal production, a stability that bodes well for the early schedule.
Sophomore goalkeeper Lis Van Herwijnen, a native of Veldhoven, Netherlands, arrives with a 1.86 goals‑against average and four clean sheets in 14 starts, providing a solid last line of defense.
Junior defender Gianna Gagliano, who led the team in minutes played last season, anchors a back line that will need to contain the Hornets’ attacking threats.
Sacramento State counters with Lexi Schroeder, the 2025 leading scorer who contributed three goals and two assists, and a defense that posted a 1.89 goals‑against average with five shutouts.
The upcoming clash represents the 29th meeting in a series that has seen Pacific win four of the last six encounters, underscoring a competitive rivalry that continues to evolve.
Fans can watch the kickoff live on ESPN+ at 5 p.m., adding a national audience to what promises to be a tightly contested opener.