Mark Platts and Jessica Weary were brought onto Point Park University’s athletic staff this summer as the women’s soccer team’s new head coach and assistant coach.                Platts, a native of Wetherby, England, began playing soccer when he was only 5 years old. Hecontinued playing club soccer until he was accepted at Walsh University and started playing for their men’s “football” team.                Platts received his first degree in marketing and remained at Walsh for his master’s of business administration.                In 2006, Platts began coaching at Walsh and soon thereafter made his way to the United States and welcomed summer with a new team, a new country and preseason.                “Coach Platts is everything we could have asked for throughout preseason and the season so far,” said captain Maeve Gallagher. “The coaches have already made drastic improvements in the program.”                “This is my dream job,” Platts said.                Weary, 23, recently graduated from Robert Morris University with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in education. She is currently a student at Point Park working toward receiving her master’s in journalism and mass communication, while coaching as well.                “I love being in the city,” Weary said. “I am really looking forward to a winning season.”                For the first time in Point Park history, the women’s team won their season opener and did it with class during overtime.                “We started playing a lot better in the second half of the game,” Platts said.                The girls were down 0-2 around half time. After a ‘get your head in the game’ discussion, the girls game back and won 3-2 in over time.                “In athletics there are always hard times, I want him to pull us through these times and pull us out of those,” said Gallagher a left defensive back, “The coaches are not scared to tell us to get a grip and play soccer.”                “It is very positive for Point Park University’s women’s soccer to be in the hands of Mark Platts and Jes Weary,” said Kevin Taylor the Director of Athletic Communications during a phone interview.                The team is meshing together well with the new additions.                “Coach Weary has the challenge of not only coaching us but dealing with all of us as women also,” said Gallagher.                After being a starter at RMU for four years, Weary knows the ups and downs of the game.                “I have been through it all,” said Weary, “I can relate.”                While the two have different coaching styles, the combination seems to be a perfect dose of what the women’s soccer team needs.                “I think that we both have the same mentality that you need to play at the college level,” said Platts, “When [Coach Weary] is on the soccer field, she is in her element.”                “She is a hell of a coach,  our go to person, she is our anchor,” said Gallagher, “She is doing wonders for our program.”                “The best thing we have right now is the immense amount of respect that we have for the coaches,” said Gallagher.                With the coaches and team united, the season ahead looks promising.                “I am really looking forward to a winning season,” said Weary.                The girls have their next game this evening, September 9th at Waynesburg. The game starts at 7p.m. For more information on the schedule, visit Pointpark.edu/Athletics.