Program Outlook

St. Thomas women’s soccer has been a conference and regional power for much of the program’s 24-year history, and the Tommies are on the rise again under third-year head coach Sheila McGill. 
 
The Tommies have posted 19 top-five MIAC finishes in 23 seasons, including four championships and eight second-place finishes. They've reached the NCAA playoffs eight times, including a trip to the 1987 Division III Final Four. 
 
McGill was hired as head coach in 2007. Despite several injuries and many young players in her first season, McGill guided UST to a 10-7-1 record and raised the bar for her players.
 
Picked for sixth in the 2008 MIAC preseason poll, the Tommie stormed to the championship with a 9-0-2 conference record. McGill was named MIAC Coach of the Year, and Erin Sprangers was selected conference Player of the Year. Their 14-1-5 record and .825 win perecntage ranked among the best in college soccer, and UST reached 13th in the Division III national rankings. After surrenduring 24 goals in 18 games in 2007, St. Thomas allowed just 12 goals in 20 games in 2008. The Toms outscored foes 20-5 in the second half, had 10 shutouts in regulation, scored first in 12 of 16 games, and had three comeback wins.
 
The Tommies have had three All-Americans in the last 12 seasons -- 1997 honoree Kelley Hudson, who set a MIAC record for season goals with 27; and Tessie Thompson, who was honored both in 2001 and 2002. Thompson, voted the 2002 conference Player of the Year, also was voted a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2002.
 
The Toms also had a memorable season in 1997, when they built a two-season win streak to 17 en route to a conference runner-up finish and 17-3 overall record. They led Macalester in an NCAA second-round game 2-0 before losing in overtime 4-2.
 
St. Thomas closed 16-3-1 in 2001, including a school-record 13-game winning streak.
 
The 2002 Tommies had a 15-game unbeaten streak, shared the MIAC championship, and reached the NCAA playoffs for the second consecutive season. They advanced to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight where they lost a two-overtime, 0-0 shootout to eventual national champion Ohio Wesleyan and closed the season 14-4-2.
 
The 2003 Toms reached the inaugural conference playoffs and placed second in the MIAC. The 2005 Tommies placed third in the conference. 
 
As a team, the Tommies regular post a team grade-point average between 3.25 and 3.45.
 
The team’s home field is on the university’s south campus. The Tommies’ schedule includes several tough MIAC opponents and includes annual trips to places like Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and California.