Although the first scrimmage for the St. Edward’s University women’s club soccer team was a loss, the match represents a triumph for the team.

The April 20 scrimmage against Huston-Tillotson University marked a turning point for a team that had hit a few bumps in the road along the way, making games difficult to come by.

Sophomore Shelby Cole, the team’s president and captain, founded the club last semester after noticing the absence of a women’s club soccer team on campus.

“I thought [starting the club] would be easy,” she said. “I underestimated the amount of time and effort it needed, though. The hardest part became getting dedicated players to show up consistently.”

Originally, the team started with a long list of interested players, but that number dropped throughout the fall and into the spring. Currently there are 15 dedicated girls on the team.

The team became more cohesive this semester as the team members got to know each other. Participation in on-campus service events allowed the team to both grow as a unit and establish a presence at the university.

This first match was a big step in a new direction for the team. It did not go without a hitch, however, as the game was rescheduled at the last minute to be played on the lower soccer field. Without enough notice in advance to get the field painted, the girls improvised the lines with cones.

“The lack of paint was completely my fault, but the girls made do with what we had,” Cole said.

The game was competitive and the team played as if they had been working together for much longer than just a few months.

Freshman midfielder Nicole Wellman scored early in the game. Spirits were high after the goal and the girls played hard, but Huston-Tillotson’s strong defense prevented St. Edward’s from scoring again. The final score was 2-1, Huston-Tillotson.

“The first game was nerve-wracking because it was our first time to play as a whole team,” Wellman said.

With time to establish themselves and increased support from the school, the club soccer team will give female students an opportunity to play soccer outside of the university’s official team.

“I love soccer, and I knew I could make it work if I found enough girls who are as passionate about the game as I am,” Cole said. “In the future, I want to recruit incoming freshmen, get more girls on our roster, and play in a league during the fall, as well as play in tournaments in the spring.”

Cole added that if any student would like to play, they can contact her via e-mail.