The Hawaii women’s soccer team might have to borrow tactics from "Gladiator" to negotiate another brutal season in the Big West Conference.

"It’s going to be a bloodbath, I think," UH coach Michele Nagamine said after reviewing her team’s placement, seventh, in the nine-team league’s preseason poll released Thursday.

Defending regular-season champion Cal State Fullerton received five of nine first-place votes issued by the league’s coaches to project as the repeat winner. The Titans were followed by established programs Long Beach State and UC Irvine in a tie for second.

UH was picked to finish in a tie for last place last season, its first in the Big West, but surprised a few people with a 3-5-1 record (8-9-3 overall) for sixth in what was then a 10-team league; the BWC now stands at nine with Pacific’s departure for the West Coast Conference. The top four teams qualify for the conference tournament.

Respect remains high for the BWC in Division I soccer circles, Nagamine said, leading to an influx of talented recruits across the league to go with a strong group of returnees. In her mind, UH got better — but so did everyone else.

"I think it … panned out kind of the way that we thought," she said of the 2013 poll. "I had us a little bit higher, to be honest, because I think we’re a different team. But it’s not surprising to me. We have a lot to prove still, and it’s just fuel for the fire again. They picked us to finish last last year and we didn’t, so I guess it’s a step up."

Junior forward Tiana Fujimoto was UH’s lone selection to the preseason all-conference team. Fujimoto led the team last season with eight goals.

"I thank God for everything He blessed me with. I never thought I was going to make it," Fujimoto said. "This preseason has been rough. It’s really challenging, but it’s making us a better team and we look forward to the season."

The team spent last weekend training on Kauai, mixing in a scrimmage with community activities. Garden Isle native Skye Shimabukuro, who is back in action from a season-ending knee injury last year, hosted the team for a meal.

"You really realize how much you appreciate the little things," Shimabukuro said. "It was nice to have everybody at my house. Having my family with my other family."

UH opens nonconference play at home on Aug. 23 vs. UNC-Greensboro.