Saint Martin's University Athletic Department announces plan to add men’s and women's soccer 

December 6, 2005

LACEY--- Saint Martin’s University announced today that it will be adding men’s and women’s club soccer in fall 2006, and varsity intercollegiate soccer the following fall.

“The addition of both men’s and women's soccer accommodates the interests of our current students and the local community,” said Bob Grisham, Saint Martin's athletic director.

SMU, which currently sponsors seven sports for women and six for men, last added a sport in 2003-04 when indoor track and field joined the mix. SMU women’s programs include basketball, cross country, softball, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, golf and volleyball. Saints men's teams compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. The addition of men’s and women’s soccer will bring the total to 15 sports offered by the university.

The university has decided to postpone varsity competition until 2007 to build a competitive team.

“We felt that it was in our best interest to begin putting the program together now, but wait until 2007 to begin competing at the varsity level,” said Grisham. “We feel our program will be best served by waiting an additional year to compete to give us time to build a solid foundation.”

“Student-athletes will have the chance to begin school, train and compete through the initial year at the club level,” continued Grisham. We intend to hire a coach as soon as possible, ensuring that the remainder of spring can be used for recruiting.”

Athletic scholarships will be offered beginning fall semester 2006 for both the men’s and women’s club teams. More scholarships will be added in fall 2007 when both teams begin varsity competition.

Saint Martin’s will compete in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in which four schools offer men’s soccer and seven offer women’s soccer.

Fielding men’s teams are Humboldt State, Seattle, Seattle Pacific, and Western Washington universities. Women’s soccer is offered by Central Washington, Humboldt State, Northwest Nazarene, Seattle, Seattle Pacific, Western Oregon and Western Washington.

“This is one piece of implementing university President Douglas Astolfi’s long-range plan of growth in enrollment as well as in the athletic department,” said Grisham. “Our goal is to raise Saint Martin's University to the highest degree possible in both the classroom and in the athletic arena.”