Soccer fever has hit SIUC.

Soccer’s increasing popularity is one reason behind the development of the SIUC Women’s Soccer Club, Cristin Martinez, club president said.

Last year I got together with Ann (Jacobs) and started an interest group, Martinez said.

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Jacobs, who is the club’s vice president, said that an increase in the interest of female students led to the club’s formation.

We started out playing with the guys, she said. Once more girls became interested, we started our own club.

The club has become more organized in the last year. Officers have been elected to help run the organization.

Martinez said the team has between 12-15 members, and officers are elected from among them. The offices of president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and drill captain are open to anyone who wishes to run.

Officers come up with what we need to work on as a team, Martinez said. Then the drill captain comes up with drills to work on in practice.

The drill captain of the club has the responsibility of running practices, Jacobs said.

The club has an open-membership policy, and officers are always looking for more members.

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Anyone can join, Martinez said. All they have to do is pay their dues.

Members pay $10 a semester to help cover travel expenses.

The Women’s Soccer Club is a Registered Student Organization, but still holds fund raisers in order to make more money for trips. The club is also allocated money from the university.

The squad’s tournament schedule has expanded to include matches against new teams.

The team played one tournament last year, but this year’s schedule includes at least five fall tournaments.

SIUC will face University of Evansville, Western Illinois, and Illinois State.

The team scrimmages University of Evansville’s J.V. squad on Sept. 23.

Members said they are excited for the tournament.

We lost to Western, but played well, Martinez said. Hopefully, we can play well but win.