The women's hockey team, now playing a 21-game independent schedule
in its fourth year as a club sport, will move to varsity status starting with the
1999-2000 season.
The team will become the 14th
member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference's Alliance League next season and
become the College's 25th intercollegiate
varsity sport (and 13th for women) the year
after.
Director of Athletics Dick Sakala says the move is coming “because
of the interest shown by our female students. As is the case with any club sport that
we've elevated to varsity status, women's hockey has to complete a four- to
five-year cycle that shows continued interest and growth.”
The move is one of three recommendations from the Gender Equity
Committee on Athletics being adopted, Sakala said. Others are the creation of several new
coaching positions for women's sports and additional recruiting funds for
women's programs.
Last year, Union elevated its men's and women's crew after
many years of student interest at the club level; women's soccer attained varsity
status in 1984 after forming as a club sport in 1980.
Begun in 1994, the club began playing varsity teams two years ago and
has been making great progress. Player interest and ability continue to grow; there are 25
women on the team this year, more than any other year, and last year's record was
8-2-0 against club teams, 9-8-3 overall.
The league has 11 teams and will add two more next year besides Union.
There will be 18 league games with the possibility of seven non-league games for a total
of 25. Union will be paired with Hamilton as a travel partner, and the schedule will be
similar to that of the men's program, with most games played Friday and Saturday
nights.