Virginia State University women’s soccer is kicking off a new era in Ettrick ... and even has an early victory and a tie to its credit.

Coach Anthony Andrews’ fledgling, first- year program got it’s first win – a 4-0 decision Sept. 6 at Sweet Briar College in Amherst County – in just its second game.

“We’ve already improved by leaps and bounds,” said Coach Andrews, who is assisted by Frazier Brickhouse III.

Freshman forward Alana Martin, from Lanham, Md., scored VSU’s first goal in history, and then for good measure added a second. Danica Carter and Ava Stewart also scored for the Trojans.

It hasn’t been a totally smooth ride, however.

VSU lost its first game, 14-0, at Belmont Abbey, N.C., Sept. 2, and then lost 9-0 on Sept. 9 to visiting Howard in the inaugural home game at Rogers Stadium.

On Sept. 16, VSU fell 6-1 to visiting Shaw despite a goal by Morgan Paris, the first Trojans home goal in history.

It got better Sept. 17 with a 1-1 tie against invading Eastern Mennonite from Harrisonburg.

The soccer team practices and plays on the same field used by the football squad.

Still on training wheels, the Trojans were outshot 45-1 against Howard. Under constant pressure, goalkeeper Maya Cajachun registered 12 saves in the loss to the Division 1 Bison.

VSU will compete as an NCAA Division II independent for the first few years.

Coach Andrews noted that about nine of the women were on partial scholarship, including Suhaad Awudu from Accra, Ghana.