Hardin-Simmons Begins Work on Soccer Field

June 23, 2005

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' soccer teams will have a new home for the 2005 season as ground work has begun on a new facility that will be located near the softball facility just off of Grape Street.

The new facility will be ready for play in the fall with the turf expected to go in around the first of July. Future plans include a practice field and a fieldhouse. The field will be wider at 120 by 80. The Shelton Stadium Field was smaller at 118 by 66. The new location is more in line with NCAA standards.

The soccer teams have played their games at Shelton Stadium, but a new soccer-only facility will allow for scheduling flexibility on both fields and also gives the teams a field that is designed and built specifically for soccer.

"This gives the soccer teams something they can call their own," said Hardin-Simmons Athletic Director John Neese. "They have deserved a facility that allows them to play at the recommended NCAA levels for soccer. The soccer set-up at Shelton was legal but was very tight and did not allow for much room on the sidelines. We are excited about the possibilities of the soccer atmosphere at a new field."

"This is just a continuation in the process of giving our coaches whatever it takes to have them recruit student-athletes to Hardin-Simmons University and have them excel on the field. Our soccer programs have been two of the most successful teams in the history of the American Southwest Conference."

As an alumni of the soccer program at Hardin-Simmons, men's head coach Dan Heger sees the positives as well.

"The field will give our guys something that not only but the alumni can be proud of," said Heger. "It is going to be one of the top facilities in the conference and with the addition of the fieldhouse it will keep us up-to-date in the recruiting battles."

"We are excited about the future of this field for our program," said women's head coach Marcus Wood. "The fans will be right on the field rather than far away like at Shelton and we will be able to create more of a home field advantage at the new location. This location will bring more atmosphere to our games along with giving us a field that is wider than what we play on now."

Both soccer teams advanced to the American Southwest Conference Tournament last season with the Cowgirls winning the ASC title and advancing to the Sectional Semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.