A new chapter in University of Thomas athletics has begun. The Tommie women's soccer team took the honor of ushering in Division I play with the Aug. 24 home-field contest against Northern Iowa.
With a stadium record crowd of 405 watching, the visiting Panthers (1-1-1) and the host Tommies (0-0-1) played to a scoreless tie. The nonconference clash was contested on a warm Tuesday evening at St. Thomas' south athletics field.
Audrey Vidmar (7) passes the ball on the south athletics field on Aug. 24, 2021, where the St. Thomas women's soccer team tied its first Division I home game against Northern Iowa with a final score of 0-0. Emma Fournier (4) chases down the ball on the south athletics field on Aug. 24, 2021, where the St. Thomas women's soccer team tied its first Division I home game against Northern Iowa with a final score of 0-0. Lexi Huber (16) fights for the ball on the south athletics field on Aug. 24, 2021, where the St. Thomas women's soccer team tied its first Division I home game against Northern Iowa with a final score of 0-0. Marli Bertagnoli (6) fights for the ball on the south athletics field on Aug. 24, 2021, where the St. Thomas women's soccer team tied its first Division I home game against Northern Iowa with a final score of 0-0. Olivia Graupmann (00) kicks the ball on the south athletics field on Aug. 24, 2021, where the St. Thomas women's soccer team tied its first Division I home game against Northern Iowa with a final score of 0-0. Head coach Sheila McGill, center, speaks to the women’s soccer team during halftime on the south athletics field on Aug. 24, 2021, during its first Division I home game against Northern Iowa that ended with a tied final score of 0-0. Sofia Caballero (8) fights for the ball on the south athletics field on Aug. 24, 2021, where the St. Thomas women's soccer team tied its first Division I home game against Northern Iowa with a final score of 0-0. The women’s soccer team does sprints on the south athletics field on Aug. 24, 2021, prior to its first Division I home game against Northern Iowa that ended with a tied final score of 0-0. Gaba Palazzo (9) maneuvers the ball downfield on the south athletics field on Aug. 24, 2021, where the St. Thomas women's soccer team tied its first Division I home game against Northern Iowa with a final score of 0-0. Photos by Liam James Doyle/University of St. Thomas