USIU Loses Debut in Women’s Soccer, 6-0

Although his team lost, 6-0, Coach Ron Pietila was satisfied with the play of the United States International University women’s soccer team Friday.

That’s because the Gulls, who played the first women’s soccer match in the school’s history, were up against Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Tigers (2-0) are ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division I soccer and feature several current and former All-Americans.

“It was like the (Class-A) Reno Padres playing against the Yankees,” Pietila said. “It was like a ‘Who’s Who’ of women’s soccer out there.”

Pietila was proud that USIU held the Tigers scoreless for 26 minutes. At that point, Maryclaire Robinson, a member of the U.S. national youth soccer team, scored.

The score was 2-0 at halftime, and senior forward Ann Sernicek, a former high school All-American, scored three goals in the second half.

“We got beat up a little,” Pietila said. “The score looks bad, but we’ll be all right. I think we are going to be a good soccer team.”