A new season always brings about new goals and expectations. A new coach often spurns excitement and fresh attitudes. But what happens when a new sport comes about?

Iowa State’s women’s soccer team is ready to step up and face that challenge this fall as they write the book on what it takes to be a competitive collegiate soccer team. This will be the first year for the women to have a soccer team officially recognized and financially sponsored by the university.

Work ethic and attitude are number one, Head Coach Cathy Klein informed 31 players who were participating in soccer tryouts on Thursday.

“If you make this team we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.” Klein said. “But we’ve got the tools to win some games.”

Klein also stressed the importance of self-discipline. The morning practice had already gotten the best of a few players who were suffering from heat fatigue. Klein reminded the team that they will be playing games in that type of heat, and they all needed to “figure out a way to win the game and keep your lunch down”.

Cathy Klein is no stranger to discipline, and brings to Iowa State a winning tradition. Klein, a former Creighton coach, ended her 1994 season with a 14-4 overall record, with a perfect home record of 8-0. She also spent three years as women’s head soccer coach at Earlham College, a Division III school in Richmond, Indiana. Prior to that, Klein served as head coach at Utica College in Utica, NY, where she turned a team with a winless program into a squad that ended with a 6-16-3 season.

In her career as a soccer player, Klein posted impressive numbers. Klein earned all-American honors in 1995 and 1996 at SUNY-Cortland in New York. She was also named one of 11 players on the MVP list in Soccer America magazine during her senior year at Cortland.

Klein said she wants to create a solid foundation for a competitive soccer program that will focus on good habits and fundamentals. Klein will also emphasize discipline and a strong work ethic in her players.

To help matters, Klein brought a couple Creighton players with her. Dawn Weber, a sophomore at ISU this fall, was a player for Creighton’s Lady Jays last year.

“Things are looking very promising” Weber said.

Theresa Daniels, a sophomore and member of Iowa State’s soccer team voiced her optimism about this year and the new coach.

“It’s going to be fun,” Daniels said. “We just need to try hard and never give up.”

The Cyclones will be joined by five other Big 12 schools in competitive women’s soccer this year — Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Texas Tech and Texas A&M. According to the NCAA, Division 1 teams are allowed to play 20 matches during their season. While the ISU’s women’s soccer schedule is still being confirmed, the team has their first scrimmage on Aug. 26.

For anyone who would still like to try out for the soccer team, the final chance will be on Aug. 21 from 3:30 to 5:30.