The brand new $1.3 million Lessing Field located in the center of campus should be ready for the men’s soccer team’s home opener next Wednesday against Harvard.
However, certain standards need to be met by the construction company before the university officially accepts the field, according to Director of Athletics Eugene Doris.
“Our field consultant Dr. Dest reported that the contractor hasn’t met standards,” Doris said. “There are minor items that still need work. Odds are the field will be ready in time.”
Much of the construction cost was donated by Stephen Lessing, whom the field is named after. Lessing was a member of Fairfield’s lacrosse and tennis teams while attending the university.
Lessing Field, which will hold 600 fans, will primarily be used as a game-field only. The wear-and-tear of the many programs occupying Alumni Field was one of the primary factors leading to the construction of Lessing Field for soccer and lacrosse.
“The surface is critical for the style of game we play,” said head women’s soccer coach Maria Piechocki. “The maintenance of the field will be more plush and conducive to fit our game.”
The quality and appearance of the new stadium will also aid the soccer and lacrosse programs in gaining more recognition and interest amongst high-level collegiate programs as well as high school athletes.
“The field will definitely help us in terms of recruiting, getting better teams to come here to play us and to host tournaments,” said men’s soccer head coach Carl Rees.
Rees, however, admits that it remains to be seen if the new stadium will attract more student interest in the games.
Some students say that because of the field’s central location on campus, it will attract more students.
“I think it will attract more student interest,” said Leslie Estelle ’05. “As a former resident of Dolan, I know it will because students are going to walk right by the field on their way to their dorm.”
Kevin Nyarady ’05 agreed. “You can’t miss it. It’s right in the middle of campus, making it convenient for more students to attend games,” Nyarady said. “I think it will definitely benefit the athletic programs.”
However, Sean Tompkins ’03 says the teams’ performances on the field will be the underlying factor for consistent large student turnouts.
“Although the field’s location may initially attract more students than before, it will be up to the teams to get those fans to keep coming out,” Tompkins said.
The opening of Lessing Field comes one year after the basketball programs’ move to the Arena at Harbor Yard. This was done in an attempt to provide the athletic programs with the best facilities possible while attracting more attention to the university.
The athletic department succeeded in this feat when it was announced this summer that the Arena at Harbor Yard would host part of the 2006 Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament.
“It was getting tougher and tougher as time went on to be able to get Yale, Harvard and other top teams to come here because the soccer field was always chopped up because of the football game the weekend before,” Doris said. “For a lacrosse standpoint, lacrosse is starting to go more and more towards grass, especially during the postseason.”
The men’s soccer team, which has been consistently ranked amongst the nation’s top 25 teams, is excited at the opportunity to open Lessing Field against Ivy League-power Harvard on Wednesday.
“Harvard had a very good team last year. With Harvard’s location and rivalry, it may attract many community members to the game,” Rees said.
He added, “We are delighted to get on the new field. It is infinitely better for our soccer program.”
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