I've been meaning to start a thread to keep track of new programs. Below is a link to what I think is an interesting article about perhaps the unlikeliest of all new programs, the one at the Citadel, which was a new program last season. Yes, sports fans, there's a DI women's soccer team at the Citadel. Former Jackson Star Eyes Citadel Challenge With a 16-1 male/female ratio at the Citadel, a women's soccer program can go a long way all by itself to bringing the Citadel into Title IX compliance.
The Drake Bulldogs Here is a confirmed new program for 2002. The Drake Bulldogs Des Moines, IA - Missouri Valley Conference I see they have a game September 17 against Nebraska. Drake Women's Soccer Recruiting Class Ranked No. 15 Monday, July 29, 2002 Their recruiting class is regionally ranked only 14 below Notre Dame. Corbin Stone Named Women's Soccer Coach Wednesday, September 05, 2001 I will post more new programs as I confirm them.
Two teams that won't begin in 2002: VMI Virginia Military Institute JULIE DAVIS NAMED VMI WOMEN'S SOCCER COACH ----------- Sam Houston St. Bearkats - Southland conference - program begins in 2003. (It seems to be "Bearkats", with a 'k') Marcia Oliveira Named As Women's Soccer Head Coach
Here's a new Division I program for 2002: IUPU - Fort Wayne Mastadons (Lady Dons) It was a division II school and has played women's soccer since 1999. Overall record 8-43. There may be as few as 4 new DI programs this year (despite what Soccer Buzz had been saying - that there might be quite a few more than that). Several of the schools on the Soccer Buzz list were provisional DI programs last year. And others don't appear to have teams. If there are only 4 new programs, I think that will be the smallest number of new programs in over 20 years.
Well, since the title of this thread didn't explicitly seek new D-1 programs, I'll put down Point Park College (Pgh, Pa.), which <i>seems</i> to be fielding a new women's soccer team in 02. http://www.ppc.edu/athletics/women/index.html
Here's a new NAIA program for 2002. The first game on their schedule is today. John Brown University Golden Eagles Siloam Springs, AR
A new team last year: Emporia State Hornets Emporia, KS Nine home matches, including an attempt to break the all-time NCAA Division II single game attendance record...
Has the boom passed?? SoccerBuzz is now listing 7 new DI programs for 2002, which is quite a few less than their previous estimate, and is the smallest increase in many, many years. Over 85% of DI schools play women's soccer, so there just aren't a whole lot of schools left.