A new sport will be part of the athletic offerings at North Arkansas College in 2022.

Soccer will join the current lineup of men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and esports according to a press release from the school which provides more information below:

Northark President Rick Massengale told Trustees at the October meeting many of the colleges feeder high schools offer soccer. Bergman, Berryville, Eureka Springs, Green Forest, Harrison, Huntsville, Lead Hill and Mountain Home field teams. The College already has a soccer field that will be extended to meet regulations and they are currently searching for a coach to lead the new team.

“Hiring the coach will be our first action and the process will start immediately, with hopes of the coach being in place by January,” Massengale told Trustees.  “The coach will then start recruiting and having open tryouts with the intent to assemble the team next semester and start competing next fall.  With the local talent in the area high schools, I am very optimistic that we can field a very competitive team from the start.  Our area soccer programs are strong as is evidenced by the success in their respective high school competitions,” he said.  “I get excited thinking about bringing all the talented athletes in the area who have competed against each other over the years together into one team, plus, they will be playing at the collegiate level in front of their families and friends.  Between the women and men’s teams, I am hoping to have 60 soccer players on campus for the first year.” 

The Northark Pioneer soccer team will compete as a Division II NJCAA sport.