THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 24, 1996 TAG: 9603240212
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
A chilly but enthusiastic crowd turned out Saturday at the ground-breaking ceremony for Virginia Wesleyan's soccer/lacrosse facility.
The field, to be located on Smith Drive opposite Village II, is slated to be ready for play no later than fall 1997. More than half the $500,000 needed to fund the project has already been raised.
According to athletic director Donald M. Forsyth, the new facility will be one of the best on the East coast and will enable the Division III Marlins' soccer team to host national tournament events.
``It will help us attract top student-athletes,'' he said. ``It will also help us host NCAA tournaments, something we have not been able to do in the last six years.''
The facility will include a fenced-in, grass field, bleachers, a scoreboard, press box, locker rooms and offices. Virginia Wesleyan has not built a new athletic facility since the 1976 gymnasium and 1977 Tennis Center projects were completed.
Men's soccer coach Sonny Travis and women's soccer/lacrosse coach Kyle Hannan see the field as a recruiting edge for the Marlins.
``I think it'll put us up a notch,'' Travis said. ``We'll have a chance to recruit even better players when they see the facility. Soccer players like to play on good fields. The college has made a commitment to make this a first-rate soccer/lacrosse stadium and we'll be able to attract even better student-athletes.''
Travis' program has consistently been a Division III power. In the past six seasons, the Marlins have a 68-3-2 home-field record. Virginia Wesleyan has played in the national tournament all six years.
``We've made a name for ourselves,'' Travis said. ``This will just improve our program. There's a possibility we'll be on (the field) in the fall of 1996 if we sod it and can bring it around. If we have a great year, I think our facility combined with that would give us an excellent host advantage. If we could host . . . we feel we're going to bring the national championship home.'' by CNB