Everything will be “a first” for the New Mexico State women’s soccer program this season, and as coach Michael Needham explained there’s something pretty special about that.

“Everything that we do makes history,” Needham said. “That was something I talked about with a lot of the recruits. This will be the first New Mexico women’s team ever to compete. They’re really pioneers in a way.”

After ten years of lobbying from the surrounding community, the Aggies finally have a women’s program. Needham will be the man behind the school’s launch into unchartered waters this season. He’s brought in 31 players, all of which will get their first crack at things on August 4, following open tryouts and an extensive recruiting process.

Needham brings an enthusiasm that matches the community’s, and he’s coming off successful assistant coaching stints at George Mason and UNLV. This season will an entirely new challenge for however, as New Mexico State builds from scratch in a competitive Western Athletic Conference.

When Needham arrived at the school in October, he didn’t have as much as an office. But seven months later the wheels have been set into motion as he awaits the arrival of his players.

“It’s one of those things where not having the players here has really given us a chance to get more organized,” Needham said. “What attracted me to this position is that we’re starting with a blank canvas and we can do things the way we see fit. It’s not a situation where there’s been an established program here and it’s something we have to adhere to.”

New Mexico State will play its home games in Aggie Memorial Stadium, the site of the school’s football games. Now exactly how they’ll play is quite another matter. With this being the inaugural season, Needham isn’t expecting world-beaters but he does have a few ambitious expectations.

“My biggest expectation is that we come together as a group,” Needham said. “Secondly, I expect commitment and passion from a group of kids making history. I would for us to be able to make the conference tournament this season. I know that some would like for us to be competitive within the next couple years, but I’m a little more impatient than that. I’d like for us to be competitive right away.”
 

NM State’s Signing Class as June 9, 2009

Lauren Allen
5-9, Defender/Midfielder, Freshman
Osbourn Park High School, Manassas, Va.
 
Crystal Burns
5-5, Forward, Freshman
Shattuck St. Mary’s, Olathe, Kan.
 
Jazmin Cardoso
5-4, Forward, Freshman
Broadway High School, Harrisburg, Va.
 
Lauren Cope
5-2, Midfield/Forward, Freshman
La Mirada High School, La Mirada, Calif.
 
Baili Foutz
5-9, Center Midfielder, Junior
Mountain Pointe, Phoenix, Ariz.
 
Katie Graul (pictured on front)
5-8, Goal Keeper, Senior
Loyola Marymount/ Santiago Canyon College
 
Aisha Gutierrez
5-2, Left Fullback, Freshman
Franklin High School, El Paso, Texas
 
Kelly Heiman
5-6, Center Midfield, Freshman
The Colony High School, The Colony, Texas
 
Courtney Irwin
5-8, Defender, Freshman
Capital High School, Boise, Idaho
 
Gabriella Lopez
5-4, Defender, Freshman
Barbados
 
Kassandra Martinez
5-8, Midfielder, Freshman
Burges High School, El Paso, Texas
 
Yolanda McMillian
5-7, Defender, Freshman
Alamogordo High School, Alamogordo, N.M.
 
Natalie Nichols
5-8, Forward, Redshirt-Sophomore
North Idaho College, Post Falls, Idaho
 
Elizabeth Nordin
5-8, Defender, Freshman
Huntington Beach High School, Huntington Beach, Calif.
 
Vanessa Novella
5-6, Midfielder, Freshman
Capistrano Valley High School, Mission Viejo, Calif.
 
Taylor Reyes
5-3, Midfielder, Freshman
Palo Verde High School, Las Vegas, Nev.
 
Jessica Schutter
5-8, Goal Keeper, Freshman
John F. Kennedy High School, La Palma, Calif.
 
Veronica Subu
5-2, Forward/Midfield, Freshman
Coronado High School, Henderson, Nev.
 
Vanessa Thomas
5-3, Forward, Freshman
Hanks High School, El Paso, Texas
 
Nina Yanes
5-5, Forward, Junior
Santiago Canyon College, Mission Viejo, Calif.
 
Alyssa Yard
5-5, Defender, Freshman
Barbados