University of North Texas Athletics
Making Of A Dynasty: The First Win
6/30/2020 9:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
The North Texas soccer program, the most successful team in UNT history and led by the school's most accomplished coach, enters the 2020 season this fall with a target on its back, as usual. It comes with the territory of having won a league title in eight straight years and 16 since 2001. But what's led to this dynasty is much deeper than just the goals and wins. Over the coming weeks as the team prepares for its 26th season, we'll highlight a few of the outstanding people, characteristics, places and moments that have led this program to its elite status.
DENTON – It's well known that in its 25 seasons as a program the North Texas women's soccer team has never had a losing season.
Mean Green head coach John Hedlund is just one of three active veteran NCAA DI coaches that can claim that honor while being at just one school — along with North Carolina's Anson Dorrance and Texas A&M G Guerrieri.
But ever since North Texas' second-ever match and first win back on Sept. 3, 1995, its all-time program-record has not dipped below .500. That's 524 consecutive matches of a winning soccer program.
UNT enters the 2020 season with an all-time record of 358-133-34.
Back in 1995, the Mean Green beat LSU on a neutral site in Lubbock, Texas, 4-2. It was the program's first-ever win.
And the rest has been nothing but winning history.
On that day in 1995, North Texas fired off 24 shots. UNT's Lisa Whitfield scored two goals and Marnie Simmons and Melanie Lovato each chipped in a goal of their own. All four goals were assisted on.
Following the victory over LSU, the Mean Green rallied off four consecutive wins including a 2-1 home win over Mississippi State. They'd finish their inaugural season in 1995 with an 11-6-1 overall record. UNT was not a member of a conference that year and had its season conclude on a three-match winning streak. Despite its impressive .638 winning percentage in 1995, the Mean Green have actually had 23 seasons with higher winning percentages.
While 524 matches have come since its Sept. 3, 1995 win, the very first victory is where the university's most successful athletic program's history all began. And though Hedlund understands some of his program's impressive winning streaks could someday come to an end, the streak of consecutive winning seasons is one he refuses his team to ever fall short of.
Today, UNT soccer having a winning season isn't the bar of success. Winning seasons have become so woven into the DNA of the program it's now an unspoken and understood expectation from the moment you step into Hedlund's office. It's shown with 16 conference championship trophies and 25 consecutive winning seasons.
What's understood doesn't need to be said.
And it all began on Sept. 3, 1995.
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DENTON – It's well known that in its 25 seasons as a program the North Texas women's soccer team has never had a losing season.
Mean Green head coach John Hedlund is just one of three active veteran NCAA DI coaches that can claim that honor while being at just one school — along with North Carolina's Anson Dorrance and Texas A&M G Guerrieri.
But ever since North Texas' second-ever match and first win back on Sept. 3, 1995, its all-time program-record has not dipped below .500. That's 524 consecutive matches of a winning soccer program.
UNT enters the 2020 season with an all-time record of 358-133-34.
Back in 1995, the Mean Green beat LSU on a neutral site in Lubbock, Texas, 4-2. It was the program's first-ever win.
And the rest has been nothing but winning history.
On that day in 1995, North Texas fired off 24 shots. UNT's Lisa Whitfield scored two goals and Marnie Simmons and Melanie Lovato each chipped in a goal of their own. All four goals were assisted on.
Following the victory over LSU, the Mean Green rallied off four consecutive wins including a 2-1 home win over Mississippi State. They'd finish their inaugural season in 1995 with an 11-6-1 overall record. UNT was not a member of a conference that year and had its season conclude on a three-match winning streak. Despite its impressive .638 winning percentage in 1995, the Mean Green have actually had 23 seasons with higher winning percentages.
While 524 matches have come since its Sept. 3, 1995 win, the very first victory is where the university's most successful athletic program's history all began. And though Hedlund understands some of his program's impressive winning streaks could someday come to an end, the streak of consecutive winning seasons is one he refuses his team to ever fall short of.
Today, UNT soccer having a winning season isn't the bar of success. Winning seasons have become so woven into the DNA of the program it's now an unspoken and understood expectation from the moment you step into Hedlund's office. It's shown with 16 conference championship trophies and 25 consecutive winning seasons.
What's understood doesn't need to be said.
And it all began on Sept. 3, 1995.
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Friday, September 05
Friday, August 29
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