Women's Soccer adopts Mia Patterson to the Team; Wore #11 on Monday

IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas women's soccer team has adopted 10 and a half-year old Mia Patterson to be part of the squad this season. Patterson is diagnosed with down syndrome, but has great energy. Her smile was contagious and she enjoyed getting to participate in warmups with the Crusaders before Monday's win against McMurry University. Patterson, sported No. 11, walked out to midfield with the starting 11 Crusaders when the lineups for both teams were announced.

The whole team came together to support and create this opportunity for Patterson. Juniors Tori Fleharty (Richmond, Texas) and Sydney Stirling (McLean, Va.), and sophomores Mason Cosgrove (Las Cruces, N.M.) and Samantha Deitschel (San Antonio, Texas) offered the following remark.

"Adopting Mia to become a part of our team is a great opportunity to get to know someone in the community and be impacted by her as much as we hope to impact her life as well. We want her be a part of something bigger than she is used to; we want her to be a part of our family."

The Crusaders hope to have Patterson with them at future home events. Dallas hosts Millsaps College on Friday at 5 p.m. and Hendrix College on Sunday at 12 p.m.