Point Park women’s soccer is set to begin its second year in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) with new leadership at the helm. The Pioneers, coming off a 3-10-5 season, enter 2025 under first-year head coach Colin Baker.
Baker, originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, arrives in Pittsburgh after two seasons as an assistant coach at Missouri Western State University, a Division II program in St. Joseph, Missouri. Missouri Western achieved its best record in program history last fall and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament.
For Baker, the chance to take over the Pioneers comes at a pivotal time in the program’s history.
“This program can be one of the best teams in the Mountain East,” Baker said. “Not only that, the opportunity to build something from scratch in that transition from NAIA to Division II.”
Point Park enters the season with a veteran core. The roster includes a senior class of 15 and 11 juniors, providing the program with one of its most experienced lineups to date. Captains Gillianne Stewardson, Sterre Kuijper and Harleen Dhasi will lead the Pioneers into their second MEC campaign.
As preseason wound down, Baker said the players have shown enthusiasm and commitment.
“The team’s been eager to learn from day one,” Baker said. “They want to be coached and I think that’s been a huge part of the success in terms of turning the culture around and building the program.”
In 2024, Point Park found offensive success during the second half of the season. The team will look to continue that momentum as it pushes toward conference play.
“It’s showing who we are and it’ll come to fruition through our work and the results we get,” Baker said.
Baker also acknowledged the challenges of competing in a tough conference but emphasized belief in the process.
“We’re going to have a lot of ups and downs, but the journey is what it is, so we’re gonna believe until the very end,” Baker said.
Point Park opens its 2025 campaign at home on Thursday, Sept. 4, against Florida Southern at Highmark Stadium. From there, the Pioneers will look to make strides in conference play as they continue their transition into NCAA Division II.
