Thursday, October 01, 2020

Breaking ground: ‘Cats celebrate $1.55M Linfield soccer/lacrosse renovation


Breaking ground: ‘Cats celebrate $1.55M Linfield soccer/lacrosse renovation

By Logan Brandon, McMinnville N-R/News-Register 10/2/2020

Fresh off changing its name to Linfield University, the Division III McMinnville school has broken ground on a $1.55 million renovation of its soccer and lacrosse field.

While the Wildcat men’s and women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse programs can’t test their new playing surface until conference play resumes in 2021, an enthusiastic group of supporters joined staff, student-athletes, alumni and donors in a Monday celebration of the groundbreaking.

The former natural grass field gives way to a FieldTurf surface. This upgrade supplies Linfield teams with an ideal year-round practice and playing surface while substantially reducing maintenance and game setup costs.

The primarily donor-funded project represents the most significant upgrade in the history of the soccer/lacrosse athletic complex.

“Completing this project right now is a message of hope, of not being sidetracked by adversity but rather accepting the challenges and keeping ourselves moving forward,” said Linfield Athletic Director Garry Killgore.

Former student-athletes and alumni played critical roles in the completion of the project’s funding.

“This project, as well as many others through the years, is getting done thanks to some very generous donors who believe in Linfield’s ‘ALL IN’ mantra,” noted Killgore. “These positive role models are giving back to something that was profoundly positive in their lives – Linfield and its athletic program.”

Monday’s ceremonial construction, which included the arrival of several machines, equipment and digging materials, officially marked the initiation of phase one of the project. Estimated time for completion of the first phase is December.

Additional improvements expected during the first phase include branded mesh screening around the field, creating an enclosed setting, plus the installation of six protected storage spaces to house team equipment and supplies.

“Now, we can play in any weather and not have to be as worried about injuries and, just as importantly, our student-athletes can play on our true home field instead of other options we have had to use,” said Killgore.

The project’s second phase, scheduled to begin in 2021, includes a new seating section, the completion of an adjoining paved plaza and a renovated press box.

The magnitude of the project represents the grandest in the venue’s 30-year history. The $1.55 million enterprise modernizes the facility, which was originally gifted to Linfield in the 1990s by Hewlett-Packard.

The upgraded facility will serve a variety of uses. In addition to hosting soccer and lacrosse practices and matches, the renovation creates recreational space for all students and will serve as the centerpiece for community events.

“This project is absolutely critical,” added Killgore. “Not only for the success of our student-athletes in men’s and women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse, but it’s equally as important for students who participate in intramurals as well as members of the community. Having a second turf field at Linfield really opens up so much flexibility in scheduling for all our athletic teams.”

A webcam showing real-time progress on the facility is online at https://linfieldtopcat.com/sports/soccerlacrossefield .

Linfield University’s Jeffrey Martin assisted with this report.