University of the Pacific’s women’s soccer program is gearing up for the 2025 season with a roster rooted in Northern California talent.

The Tigers have four incoming players with connections to the region, including graduate student Taylor Curtis ’26, a business administration major from North Highlands, California with a determination to play proudly for Pacific.

“Being a first-generation student and getting my master’s degree, Pacific has been great for me and for those that are striving for a great education and to be a part of the athletics here,” Curtis said. “We understand the expectations and the standards, but we want the freshmen and transfers to hop on the bus in creating a great environment to be able to win and possibly reach the tournament this season.”

As one of the returning leaders on this year’s squad, Curtis looks to place an emphasis on the details of practices this season, citing her summer experience with the Stockton Cargo in which the team went undefeated during regular season play and was ultimately crowned United Soccer League NorCal Division champions.

“Playing with a bunch of professional athletes from different countries was really helpful and gave a lot of insight into the game,” Curtis said. “The practices were very serious. We focused on the details in fixing what went wrong and redoing it the right way. That’s one of the main things I took away from the Cargo and hope to bring that into the fall this season.”

Curtis also got to play with and be a mentor for freshman Janelli Villagran ’29, a criminology major, as teammates on the Cargo. Villagran, a native of Stockton, is one of 10 newcomers on the team.

“It means so much to me,” Villagran said. “My parents, family and friends were so happy that I chose to stay in Stockton and pick University of the Pacific. All the coaches have been building from the ground up, and I want to be a part of that journey and represent Stockton as a hometown hero.”

Villagran brings in a knack for scoring goals, finding the back of the net 90 times across her high school career at Franklin. The midfielder trained with the Cargo this past summer where she learned some tips and tricks and seeks to make an immediate impact with the Tigers.

“I like to work hard,” Villagran said. “My parents have set a very high standard for me. As a first-generation student, I want to succeed to the best of my abilities. I always stay focused and have a positive mindset through everything. I’m looking forward to the season ahead.”

Under the leadership of first-year Head Coach Jeff Freeman, the Tigers have taken pride in finding homegrown talent to fuel an exciting season at Knoles Field.

“We want to make sure we’re recruiting players from around Stockton, Sacramento and the Bay Area,” Freeman said. “We are trying to create some excitement around our program and recruiting locally helps grow that and generate energy to the team and fan base.”

As the 2025 campaign nears with high intensity morning practices and team-bonding sessions underway, Pacific has already seen the signs of chemistry forming on and off the field.

“Our upperclassmen have spent a ton of time being intentional in building relationships with our new players,” Freeman said. “They have been bought in and worked hard this summer to get ready. I’m excited for them to put things together and see how the hard work pays off on the pitch.”

The Tigers will play nine home games this season at Knoles Field, with the first game Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. See the full schedule.