Trailblazing Tulip City United women's soccer team earns historic home victory

The Tulip City United Soccer Club hosted the first women's game in club history on Saturday, a huge moment for women's sports in Holland.

HOLLAND - It only took a minute for the Tulip City United Soccer Club women's team to find the goal in its first home game.

Taryn Kelly scored, then scored again - and again. A hat trick in the first 14 minutes led Tulip City United to a 6-1 win over Pinnacle Football Club on Saturday, July 12, at Holland High School.

The stands were packed for the first ever Tulip City women's game, the first Michigan semi-pro team in the Midwest Premier League.

The historic first game and first win were not lost on the players, who come from 15-plus colleges and include Hope and homegrown players.

"It means everything. I have been wanting to be on a team like this for a long time. The guys all have teams and now, finally, we get to bring something and represent Holland," said Ainsley Harris, a forward for Hope College who is from Holland. "I love that all of the girls come from different colleges and we can all work together. Everyone brings something different and it is amazing to see how much our chemistry has grown."

The Tulip City United women are coached by Matt Margaron and assisted by former Hope coach Leigh Sears and Fennville coach Kyle Nevenzel.

"I am just really grateful that something like this can exist in a community like Holland," Margaron said. "It is a soccer-rich community and there are a lot of ladies that have put in a ton of work over the years. For them to be celebrated, it has needed to happen and I am glad it has finally happened."

It has an extra layer of specialness for Margaron, who is coaching his daughter, Emma Margaron.

The Tulip City United women's soccer team celebrates after a goal by Taryn Kelly, second from left, against Pinnacle FC at Holland High School on July 12.

"Getting to coach my daughter has been a blast. I have watched her grow up playing with and against a lot of the players. Watching her club teammates Ella Sligh and Sarah Geerlings, two of her club teammates getting goals in the first game was special," he said. "We have 15-plus colleges represented. We have had up to 50 girls in training sessions. To have that many players show up and train, scrimmage and build chemistry has been phenomenal to watch."

That comes from the work put in by the players during training sessions.

"We all connect as a group. We came together in just a few weeks and it really showed tonight," said Ashley Saldana, a former Holland High School player. "It means a lot to me. My older brother started at Tulip City and it is nice to keep that going. To have that opportunity is (special).

"We have a great team and I can't wait for the upcoming years."

Tulip City United's Brenna Rohloff attacks the ball on July 12.

Tulip City United men's team building community

Prior to the historic women's game, the Tulip City United men's team lost 4-3 to the 1927 club out of Fort Wayne.

The team is in its fourth season and first under Tyler Robinson.

"We went into the season wanting to recruit some Holland homegrown guys and other college players from around. We wanted a combination and that is what we have. We have four Hope guys, four Calvin guys, some homegrown guys and a few DII and DI guys," Robinson said.

While the team hasn't won as much as the players hoped, Tulip City United has entrenched itself in the community.

"We preach that we don't want to just be a club on the pitch. We want to be among the community," Robinson said. "We have been to elementary schools to read to the kids, we have marched in two parades and we have volunteered at Gateway Mission. We want to be good people of the community. It is a good start for me in my first year here, and for these players.

"It is a whole community of players and the women's team has great players. Having a women's team will bring a ton of more interest for the whole club."

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’[email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as  Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.   

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Tulip City United women's soccer team earns historic victory

Category: General Sports