MIT WOMEN'S CLUB SOCCER
ABOUT US
Founded in 2011, the MIT Women's Club Soccer Team is now in its 11th year as an official club sport!
We are a team of undergraduate and graduate students with backgrounds in competitive soccer at the high school level or beyond. In 2018, MIT WCS won the New England North Division conference and competed in the Regional Tournament.
In fall 2019, we joined the Boston/Rhode Island Division of the Women's Region One Collegiate Club Soccer League.
​
We practice year-round, compete in our league in the fall, and play friendlies in the spring. Our team prides itself on being a fun and inclusive space to play competitive soccer! Meet our captains and coach below.
Meet the captains
Nika Fendler
Course 7 (Biology)
4th year PhD student
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
My favorite part of WCS is that I get to continue playing competitive soccer on a team even as a grad student. I love to be a part of this team and meet other MIT students from different parts of campus. I feel more connected to MIT as a university on this team. An added bonus is making all my lab mates jealous of our sweet WCS swag!
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Erin Menezes
2A-6
Class of 2024
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
I love that WCS lets me continue to play the sport I love without the competitive pressures from high school soccer. I am able to commit as much time as I want to the team. Everyone understands that everyone else is very busy and stressed outside of soccer, so soccer practices are always very fun and chill!
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Maria Alder
6-4
Class of 2025
Hometown: Boulder, CO
I love WCS because it gives me the opportunity to take a break from classes while staying active and doing something that I love. I've been able to meet some incredible people through soccer and I always look forward to practices and games with them. Overall, WCS is a fun environment with some awesome people!
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Puja Balaji
6-3
Class of 2024
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Soccer has been a large and really fun part of my life, and it's amazing to be able to continue to practice and compete with other MIT students. I've been able to meet both undergrads and graduate students with different majors and passions. It's also a great way outlet to relax and blow off steam! From playing world cup in practices and pancake parties to weekend roundtrips, WCS has always been super fun!
Meet the coach
Derek Rousseau joined the WCS in 2021 as head coach. Derek has spent over 12 years working in athletics and wellness, teaching physical education, coaching soccer, basketball, track, and tennis, most recently at the State University of New York at Oswego. He received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Sacred Heart University and a Master of Education from Providence College. A native New Englander, Derek says that if he could live anywhere in the world, he’d choose Boston. Derek’s favorite part about teaching at MIT is being able to provide a great learning experience for the students that are energetic and eager to learn.