COLFAX, Iowa – Colfax-Mingo High School kicked off its first year of girls’ soccer, and is hoping to make it far in the postseason.

History was made this year at Tigerhawk Stadium, when the girls’ soccer team wore Colfax-Mingo uniforms for the first time.

“We’ve always dreamed of when we were little playing together and now that it’s coming true,” Emmalyn Buchman, Colfax-Mingo junior and captain, said. “It’s been amazing.”

Amazing for many of the girls who are used to playing on teams combined with different schools.

“We just grew up [together]. We know each other, and so it’s better because we have good connections on the soccer field and we can just trust each other,” Lilyan Hadsall, Colfax-Mingo junior and captain, said.  

A big reason why they wanted a team to call their own. 

“They were the ones that really pushed for a team to start,” Assistant Coach Mckinzie Tjaden said. “Colfax was the one bringing the biggest numbers, so they all made this happen. And once they made it happen, I was on board. I was ready to go.”

Tjaden was ready to go because as a Colfax-Mingo graduate, she knows what it’s like. 

“I played all four years at Prairie City Monroe,” Tjaden said. “Never got to wear my own school’s jersey, but now these girls do so it’s awesome.”

School pride could be part of the reason Tigerhawk Soccer won ten games in the first season. Head Coach Zach Tomas also points to players’ experience and knowledge of the sport.

“The girls have played a lot of soccer and have been coached very well to get to this point,” Tomas said. “So I tease them and say my goal is just not to mess it up.”

The team is made up of 18 players from Colfax-Mingo and two from Baxter, including junior Ashlyn Finch.

“I knew a few people from here,” Finch said, “but meeting actually everyone from Colfax is nice.”

Welcoming players from smaller districts nearby, as well as all skill levels.

“I want girls to want to play soccer,” Tjaden said. “And even if you haven’t played soccer, that’s the nice thing about high school sports especially at a small school. Everybody has the opportunity to play whatever they want to play.”

Recruiting more players will be key for future success.

As players found out, starting their own team wasn’t always easy.

“Just starting a new program from scratch. Having to get all of the equipment, trying to make – we don’t have a very deep bench right now, just trying to get kids out and things like that,” Buchman said.

But it was worth it. As they head into postseason play, they are ready for whatever comes next.

“I hope we can go to state,” Hadsall said, “but if we don’t, we made something big for our school so we’ll be proud either way.”

Colfax-Mingo girls’ soccer starts regional play Wednesday night against Benton. It will be a home game for the Tigerhawks starting at 7:00 p.m.