It has finally happened.

Beginning with the 1994 fall season, women's soccer will become Penn State's 29th intercollegiate varsity sport.

The decision was based on the tremendous success of the program on the club level and the desire to increase opportunities for female student-athletes, said Athletic Director James Tarman.

The Big Ten Conference's Council of Presidents issued a mandate to achieve a male/female participation level of 60/40 percent before June 30, 1997.

"The addition of women's soccer and some realistic caps on existing teams would bring us into compliance rather quickly," said Sports Information Director L. Budd Thalman.

Soccer's designation as a varsity sport will bring about many changes for the team. The 1994 squad will play a Big Ten schedule. This will raise the level of competition the team faces and resolve scheduling difficulties that arise as a club sport.

"To be a varsity team competing in the Big Ten Conference is going to be tough," said team member Debbie Summers. "But we are definitely looking forward to the challenge."

The players will now have some funds available for grants and aid, and after a national search, two coaches will be added to the full-time coaching staff. Decisions regarding exactly who the recipients of the funds will be have not been finalized.

"I am very happy for the players," said Coach Dirck Aumiller. "I think a lot of them have been waiting for this for a long time."

Women's soccer has been officially recognized as an independent club since 1979. In the past, there have been frequent discussions about the possibility of being granted varsity status. Gender equity aided in moving the discussions to a more serious level.

In order to ensure a smooth transition and allow time for various organizational steps to be implemented, 1994 was selected as the time to begin this new endeavor.

"I'm very excited about the decision," said Summers. "It will be great to play on a varsity team."

Since the team has had so much success at the club level and the interest in the sport across the country is expanding, women's soccer seemed to be a perfect addition to Penn State's athletic offerings.

As institutions around the nation work toward achieving gender equity in intercollegiate athletics, Penn State has taken another step toward ensuring opportunities for females well into the future.