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Soccer, Lacrosse Facilities Undergo Major Upgrades

Sep 29, 2020

Sun Devil Intramurals | What is ASU EOSS?

by Lorenzino Estrada, Sun Devil Communications Intern, ASU Class of 2020

Arizona State University continues its focus on expanding competitive and recreational play with the addition of the ASU Sports and Recreation Fields. The joint venture between Sun Devil Athletics (SDA) and Educational Outreach and Student Services (EOSS) will provide many opportunities to both student-athletes and students.

"We are very excited to bring this project, a collaboration between the University (EOSS) and Sun Devil Athletics, to completion," says Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson. "The opportunities the fields will provide to our student-athletes and students will be unmatched. This is yet another example of how different arms of the university can work together to make the student experience fantastic. I'm also pleased for our soccer and lacrosse programs as they will have first-class facilities on which to compete and recruit to."
 
The various fields will serve as a new location for the varsity sports of women's soccer and lacrosse, as well as for football, band practice and other intramural sports and activities. 

"When we added lacrosse a few years back, we were short on green space," said Mike Chismar, Senior Associate Athletic Director of Facilities & Operations for SDA. "We really needed dedicated space for our teams to practice. When this opportunity came up, we partnered with EOSS, and now have the additional field space. It is a substantial upgrade to our athletic facilities with many of our teams benefiting from this project."

The intramural fields are the largest of the group, with the versatility to be broken up into multiple fields or a single field, and are part of a master plan to further develop the ASU Athletic Facilities District.
 
"With a vast amount of intramurals, clubs and leagues at ASU, it became apparent that we needed additional space in Tempe," said Julie Kipper, Executive Director of Sun Devil Fitness & Wellness. "It worked out to be the perfect design and set up for students and the athletes."
 
Being only one of six schools within the Pac-12 to have women's lacrosse, head coach Tim McCormack is thrilled for the advantages the dedicated space gives to his team in the trending sport out West. Prior to the COVID-19 shutdown last spring, McCormack's squad was 5-3.
 
"What it really hammered to me was the support we were getting," McCormack said. "Not only is this going to be a great training environment for us, but this shows everything you need to know about the administration's commitment to our success."

Meanwhile for women's soccer, head coach Graham Winkworth believes the new fields will be a driving force for future success.
 
"We got the best playing surface in the country and it is unbelievable," Winkworth said. "When soccer prospects are allowed to visit our campus, obviously we have a beautiful town and beautiful university but now we have a beautiful soccer facility. It gives us the ability to recruit top players from all over the country and even the world."

The sporting fields are already in use for Sun Devil Athletics and the recreational fields will come on-line October 15.