Women’s Club Soccer Offers a Team Environment That Gets Translated to the Field

By Alexa Bag

Many clubs are a means for students to blow off steam and make connections outside of academics. For most, exercise can have that effect. If that sounds like something that you do to relax, then joining an athletic club team might help you destress from the challenging environment that college classes can feel like.

If you don’t feel like you can make a full commitment, Adelphi does offer club teams in addition to most varsity Division II teams. One of these is the women’ soccer club. 

Women’s soccer club’s co-presidents, juniors Torrance Stewart and Paige Mahon, have been playing for the club since they were freshmen at Adelphi. The rest of the e-board consists of vice president Danielle Reid, secretary Jules Messenger and treasurer Jac Deselm. These three board members contribute to and play on the team, with Stewart and Mahon also acting as the team’s co-captains. But these other responsibilities do not prevent the team from their harmonious performance on the field. 

The women’s soccer club is a part of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association,

The Adelphi Women’s Soccer Club can give students a break from classes, while building friendships along the way. Photo by Paige Mahon and Torrance Stewart

which allows the team to play against other school’s club teams that are in the same league. Typically, the team competes against other club teams in the Metro North area. On top of those league games, the club meets about two to three times a week, each practice ranging from about an hour to two, to better the players’ skills and strengthen the team’s bond. Mahon said that “since the team is so united, that can then be translated onto the field.” 

This club team can be competitive, but its main goal is to let its players have fun. There are several themed practices, including the upcoming “Dress like a Frat Boy” and “Mean Girls Day.” The club aims for students to pick up a new hobby — or continue being involved with a game they already love — while creating friendships with other members. When interviewing the captains, Stewart expressed how “inclusive the team is and that the main goal is for people to distress from the pressure that school can add.”

The thought of joining a club team may be intimidating to some, but the team stresses that anyone of any skill level is allowed to join, with the exception of one simple rule: they must be enthusiastic. Members of all abilities and of any year are welcomed and taught everything they need to know before playing the first league game. Mahon said she was a beginner when she joined. Club members aren’t required to bring anything to practice except for cleats, water and positivity.

There is not currently an active men’s club soccer team, but Adelphi’s Director of Recreation and Intramural Sports, Linda Gundrum, said the university “will support effort on the part of students who come forward should they want to take the lead to get it started back up again.” To make Adelphi Campus Recreation aware of your possible interest in a men’s club soccer team, email campusrec@adelphi.edu.

If the women’s club soccer team sparks your interest, they are still accepting members until Oct. 12, so dust off your cleats from the attic and email auwcs@adelphi.edu if you would like to join this fun family of soccer players.