HOUSTON, Texas – The University of St. Thomas Department of Athletics announced it will begin a national search for the next head coach of the women's soccer program as the Celts build on a successful season.
UST Women's Soccer enters this next phase with strong momentum and a solid foundation in place. Under Head Coach Nataki Stewart, who accepted the head women's soccer coaching position at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the program experienced meaningful growth and elevated its competitive identity within the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The 2025 season marked a major step forward for the Celts, who posted a 10-3-4 overall record and a 7-1-2 mark in SCAC play, earning the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. The results reflected the program's growth and its continued rise within the league.
Looking ahead, UST returns the majority of its roster, including several key SCAC standouts. Junior forward Ashlee Stoltje earned All-SCAC Second Team honors following the season, providing a consistent presence and impact in the attacking third. Freshman defender Asanah Gordon also played a key role in a disciplined defensive unit, contributing significant minutes and earning conference recognition.
Several Celts were also recognized with All-SCAC Honorable Mention, including Gordon and fellow freshman defender Jaida Rodea, freshmen forwards Sydney Ferguson and Amy Romero, junior midfielder Karleigh Villanueva, and junior goalkeeper Kylie Soich. Each contributed valuable minutes and played important roles throughout the season.
In addition, Gordon, Ferguson, and Alicia Chi were named to the SCAC Freshman Team, highlighting the immediate impact of UST's young talent. These honors underscore the balance of emerging contributors and experienced leadership that defined the Celts' 2025 season.
We thank Coach Stewart for his leadership over the past three years and wish him continued success at UTRGV. Our women's soccer program had a strong season and is clearly trending in the right direction. With a roster full of young, talented, high-character student-athletes, our focus now is finding a coach who can lead this program to a conference championship," said UST Athletic Director Todd Smith.
With a competitive roster returning and a clear upward trajectory, the University of St. Thomas is committed to identifying a head coach who will continue to build on recent success and guide the women's soccer program into its next chapter. The national search will begin immediately.
