U. of Ark.-Fort Smith puts soccer plans on hold

FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is putting on hold its plans to add women’s soccer next year.

UAFS athletic director Dustin Smith said in a news release Friday that because of the economic environment and budget cuts that it isn’t feasible to add a sport. He said the cost of starting the program was estimated at about $3 million.

UAFS had announced in July that it would add women’s soccer starting with the 2012-13 season.

UAFS competes in NCAA Division II status. The university sponsors 10 sports that include women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, baseball, men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s tennis.

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