During the past year 66 colleges have added women s soccer teams. The addition of the team also reflects The University s commitment to growth. This year s freshman class is the largest in The University s history. UNCP Director of Admissions Jackie Clark said the team s addition is both a result of UNCP s growth, but will also be a cause for future growth. Our female population continues to grow at a rate that is sufficient to support another women s sport, especially soccer, said Clark.
Soccer is a sport that attracts a lot of interest from our recruits, especially in the northeast.
The addition of the team was also made possible by the planned vast improvements to UNCP s soccer facilities. A new soccer and track and field complex is scheduled to open with the 2001 season. Future plans include the building of a field house. A search has begun to find UNCP s first women s soccer head coach. Until that person is hired, current men s head coach Mike Schaeffer, will handle some of the early coaching duties including establishing a season schedule for the team next year.