Like any new team, there is going to be a steep learning curve.

That is what faces the Langley FC Premier women’s soccer team, which is in its first year of existence.

“The biggest problem when you get into women’s Premier soccer is, unless you have an established team, you are going to struggle,” said Shaun Mason, the team’s technical director.

“Most of our players are young.”

In fact, Mason estimates his team’s average age is about 19 with the eldest player 24.

Compare that to their opponents, who typically have an average roster age of over 30.

This is the first year Langley FC has offered soccer at this level, as they took over Abbotsford’s team, although without any of the players.

And Mason knew full well that the team would struggle to get victories.

He said that Abbotsford did not win any games their first two seasons, and even Surrey United, now a national power, failed to win a game their first season.

Langley FC has won one game so far out of their first four.

Losing has not gotten the Langley players spirits down.

“They understand (there will be struggles),” Mason explained.

“It is not like they are a bunch of 14-year-olds where their heads are going to go down.

“They understand it is going to take a couple of years until we start attracting more quality players to the program.”

Surrey United has a trio of high-profile players who grew up in Langley: Randee Hermus, Katie Thorlakson and Lindsay Rohla.

Hermus and Thorlakson have represented Canada numerous times,while Rohla was a big part of the Trinity Western Spartans soccer program.

Langley FC could receive some more players next month as the university and college seasons come to a close and players become available.

Right now, the roster has a couple of 18-year-olds, who just completed playing at the Metro level last season, a half dozen 19-year-olds and then some 20 and 21-year-olds.

Add it all up, and it is a very green roster.

“We have been competitive in all but two of the games,” Mason said. “Even last week, we were beaten 5-nil (against Richmond FC) but we were competitive in the first half.

“We just don’t have enough bodies.”

The key is, just like any new team, to build a solid foundation for the program.

Once that is established, the success should follow down the road.

As of right now, the team only has 13 players signed, which does not leave much in terms of substitutions and depth.

To remedy the problem — and help build towards the future — the team has been bringing up some of the younger players from the Langley FC Metro program, when the schedules do not conflict, and give them playing time.

“It is fantastic for them as they get to see the speed of play, how much more physical it was,” Mason said.

“And when they went back to their (level), they were all the much better.”

The club is also hoping to expand the soccer options for girls and women by offering competitive soccer from the U6 level all the way up to different women’s levels.

Mason said the club hopes to add a Division 1 squad and a U21 squad for next season.

The club is also looking for any local businesses who may want to offer sponsorship to the Premier team.