MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The St. Thomas Women's Soccer team will play its first game under the new lighting system at the STU Soccer Fields when the Bobcats take on Sun Conference rival Ave Maria on Monday, October 10 at 7 p.m.  Prior to the match, the STU Men's Soccer team will face off against Ave Maria with a 5 p.m start time.  The matches were postponed from their original date of Saturday, Oct. 8 due to Hurricane Matthew.

At the event, the Bobcats will be collecting hurricane relief items for Haiti in lieu of admission for tonight's games. Items needed are basic food staples (rice, beans, oil) for immediate consumption, to prevent starvation for the hundreds left without livelihoods as well as sanitation materials (primarily soap and water purification tablets) to prevent an increase in cholera and other deadly diseases.

St. Thomas University Women's Soccer alumni will be honored during a halftime ceremony under the lights as a thank you for the former players' legacy to the program. 

The new Musco lighting system was donated by the Miami FC as part of a partnership with St. Thomas University whereby the Miami FC's training headquarters is on the STU campus.  With the addition of the lights, The Miami FC now has the ability to train at night, while the St. Thomas soccer teams will play and practice at night.

Under the direction of Head Coach Michelle Smith, the Bobcats are off to a strong start to the 2016 season.  With an overall record of 6-3, St. Thomas is amongst teams currently receiving votes in the NAIA Top-25 Coaches Poll.  Already this season, STU has road wins over then-ranked Our Lake of The Lake (Texas) and Georgia Gwinnett. 

Kortney Hinden has led the Bobcats offensively with five goals and three assists on the year.  Taylor Malone and Jannel Johnson have each scored three goals, while Amyah Banks, Amanda Gordon, Sarah Lyppert Thomsson and Andreina Sifontes have each scored two goals.  Goalkeepers Cristina Garwacki and Olivia Waller along with the defense of Claudia Avila, Kylie Braeseke, Stephanie Martin and Andreina Sifontes have posted four shutouts.

Former STU Women's Soccer players are encouraged to RSVP for this special event.  Women's Soccer alumni should RSVP by emailing Head Women's Soccer Coach Michelle Smith at msmith@stu.edu.