The New Mexico State University Athletics Department has added a new sport to its lineup that will draw local and regional talent and give women athletes new opportunities for competition.

A women’s soccer program will begin competing in fall 2009. The team will be recognized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and will compete against other Western Athletic Conference schools.

The decision to create another women’s sport program at NMSU came after the athletics department conducted a self-study, examining the department with regards to gender equity and Title IX statutes. The results showed another women’s team needed to be added to the program to comply with Title IX.

“Because of the analysis made, and the interest and ability in the community, we thought women’s soccer would be a good sport to add to the athletics department,” said McKinley Boston, director of athletics.

In the beginning of the program, recruitment for players will be regional, with a strong local recruiting base expected. After the program has been established, the recruitment base will expand.

“We are looking forward to drawing from a local base, and then there will be the additional base of fans from Las Cruces,” Boston said.

A head coach was scheduled to be hired this summer.

Of the nine WAC schools, eight sponsor women’s soccer teams. NMSU is the final school in the conference to create a women’s soccer program.

A playing field for the team has not been determined yet. Currently, games will be held at the Field of Dreams sports complex located next to Mayfield High School.