Palo Alto College has added a new sports team to the Palominos’ stable: soccer.

With its swimming teams, tennis teams, women and men’s basketball and volleyball teams having success over the years, the Palominos have a proven sports program. Our men’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams are currently first in their divisions, and our women’s basketball and co-ed flag football teams rank second in their divisions.

To their benefit, the new soccer team gets to use three brand new fields on the corner of Loop 410 and Highway 16. The team has practices on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. They play on Tuesday nights or Saturday afternoons.

The soccer team had tryouts on Sept. 17, 2010, near the beginning of the fall semester. Right from the get-go, the talent was there. After a few key decisions and couple of examinations, a team was formed.

"The team consists of 23 players with a rotation that gets everybody some field time," said John Libby, athletic coordinator of PAC’s sports program.

The Palomino’s soccer team started its season with three victories, beating Northwest Vista College, San Antonio College and Victoria College. As of now, they remain number one in the Alamo Colleges Division with a record of 3-0.

"The way this team has started off the season, they look pretty darn good," said Libby.

This is a perfect way to start a season, especially being a brand new team with most players being new to each other.

"I think it’s real cool that our school has added a soccer team to the sports program," said Aaron Jaramillo, a freshman Criminal Justice major. "I’ve attended a couple of the games on Tuesdays, and it’s quite an experience."

With the men’s soccer team doing so well in their first season, Palo Alto’s sports program continues to grow and flourish. This could possibly mean that a women’s soccer team could be organized in the near future.

"We don’t have scheduled games like the boys do," said Annie Greco, a freshman Physiology major. "We just play whoever wants to play us."

In addition to soccer, three new sports have been added to Palo Alto’s sports program. These include women’s softball, co-ed flag football and a co-ed cross-country. For more information, contact Libby at jlibby1@alamo.edu or go to the Gym, Room 101.