University of North Carolina Athletics
The new UNC Lacrosse & Soccer Stadium
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Spectacular
March 4, 2019 | Men's Lacrosse, Women's Lacrosse, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
Jenny Levy looked around at where Fetzer Field once stood, marveling at her completely different surroundings.
Before Saturday, the last time Levy had coached a game on this hallowed ground, located in the heart of North Carolina's campus, was on May 20, 2017. Construction began on a new soccer/lacrosse stadium two days later. Thus commenced the most significant renovations to the site since Fetzer was built in 1935.
Over the almost two years that followed, the lacrosse teams hosted home games at Kenan Stadium. The soccer teams primarily played at WakeMed Soccer Park. Playing without a true home field certainly caused disruptions. But the coaches and programs involved were more than willing to endure those knowing what was to come, a facility worthy of the teams that have won 31 of UNC's 50 team national championships.
And after coaching her first game there Saturday, a 21-11 win over Northwestern, Levy said that's exactly what the UNC Lacrosse & Soccer Stadium proves to be.
"It's been a long time coming, quite honestly," she said. "I feel like it's absolutely been earned. The field sports here in soccer, lacrosse and field hockey have been really consistent in success. This is a spectacular stadium, and I really feel like there's nothing like it in the country.
"These programs definitely deserve something spectacular because that's what we've brought to the field since I can remember."
Any conversation about that success begins with Anson Dorrance's women's soccer program, which was initially scheduled to open the facility in the fall of 2018. But as should be expected with any project this size, there were some delays. Still, Saturday marked another special day in the history of the soccer and lacrosse programs, even if the former didn't play.
About midway through the men's lacrosse team's 12-10 loss against Denver, which preceded the women's game, Anson Dorrance stepped into the press box. He was looking for Dave Lohse, the longtime sports information director for the women's soccer and men's lacrosse teams.
"Pretty cool, huh?" said Dorrance to Lohse, both of whom had surely discussed over their 42 years of friendship if they'd ever gaze upon the stadium before them.
Yet, there it was.
Dorrance's vision had always been for a stadium that wrapped around the field and brought fans closer to the playing surface than they ever were at Fetzer. To accomplish that, the track surrounding the field was removed; the new track and field complex is near Finley Golf Course.
Saturday, fans sitting along the first row were within 10 feet of the natural grass field. Instead of being primarily packed into aluminum bleachers on one side, they could relax in one of the 4,200 individual Carolina Blue chair back seats that cover three sides of the stadium. Or they could freely walk around the larger, yet somehow more intimate, complex.
Those changes not only improved the gameday experience. They also created the sort of home-field advantage that Dorrance hoped they would.
"It was pretty weird not having the blue track around us," said Olivia Ferrucci, a redshirt junior on the women's lacrosse team. "But it's nice because the new stands are all blue, so it's kind of the exact same feeling. Honestly, it's just a way better atmosphere for soccer and lacrosse. The smaller stadium is really, really nice."
And it didn't take long for the Tar Heels to bring it to life.
Shortly after freshman Zachary Tucci won the opening face-off of the men's game, senior Timmy Kelly charged into the attacking zone. He then stopped, pivoted and passed the ball to junior Justin Anderson, who fired a shot past the Denver goalkeeper.
The goal, scored just 43 seconds into the game, marked the first in the new stadium – which hasn't been formally named yet, but in the meantime will be known as the UNC Lacrosse & Soccer Stadium in the spring and the UNC Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium in the fall.
"It was awesome scoring the first goal," Anderson said. "Just being able to have the opportunity to come out here and to have all the support from the school to build us this incredible facility, it's just an honor to be here."
The men's team ultimately lost, despite leading 6-4 at halftime. After the game, Joe Breschi acknowledged the efforts of those who made the stadium a reality.
"I commend the athletic department for putting this facility together," he said. "It's unfortunate that we didn't get the win, but at the end of the day, this is the premier lacrosse facility in the country, no doubt."
Levy echoed those sentiments about two hours later.
"We're just so appreciative of (Associate Athletic Director for Facility Planning and Management) Mike Bunting, (Assistant Director of Athletic Facility Planning and Management) Richie Grimsley and obviously (Director of Athletics) Bubba (Cunningham), who was the one who OK'd it and really pushed to make it happen," Levy said. "We told our team, 'If you see anybody who is working in facilities, please thank them.'
"The past week has been a mad scramble, and we don't know everybody who has contributed to making today happen. But we want to thank everybody because it's been a lot of hard work."
And it's still ongoing.
New offices, meeting rooms and locker rooms for both soccer programs and the women's lacrosse team are yet to be completed; the men's lacrosse facilities will remain in the Loudermilk Center for Excellence. The Hall of Honor, which will be housed in a fully-renovated McCaskill Center, is also a work in progress. So is the area adjacent to the new LED video scoreboard.
But even then, the UNC Lacrosse & Soccer Stadium, as it stands, has already proven to be an admirable home for four of Carolina's most successful programs.
"This venue is amazing," junior William Perry said, "and it was definitely worth the wait."
Jenny Levy looked around at where Fetzer Field once stood, marveling at her completely different surroundings.
Before Saturday, the last time Levy had coached a game on this hallowed ground, located in the heart of North Carolina's campus, was on May 20, 2017. Construction began on a new soccer/lacrosse stadium two days later. Thus commenced the most significant renovations to the site since Fetzer was built in 1935.
Over the almost two years that followed, the lacrosse teams hosted home games at Kenan Stadium. The soccer teams primarily played at WakeMed Soccer Park. Playing without a true home field certainly caused disruptions. But the coaches and programs involved were more than willing to endure those knowing what was to come, a facility worthy of the teams that have won 31 of UNC's 50 team national championships.
And after coaching her first game there Saturday, a 21-11 win over Northwestern, Levy said that's exactly what the UNC Lacrosse & Soccer Stadium proves to be.
"It's been a long time coming, quite honestly," she said. "I feel like it's absolutely been earned. The field sports here in soccer, lacrosse and field hockey have been really consistent in success. This is a spectacular stadium, and I really feel like there's nothing like it in the country.
"These programs definitely deserve something spectacular because that's what we've brought to the field since I can remember."
Any conversation about that success begins with Anson Dorrance's women's soccer program, which was initially scheduled to open the facility in the fall of 2018. But as should be expected with any project this size, there were some delays. Still, Saturday marked another special day in the history of the soccer and lacrosse programs, even if the former didn't play.
About midway through the men's lacrosse team's 12-10 loss against Denver, which preceded the women's game, Anson Dorrance stepped into the press box. He was looking for Dave Lohse, the longtime sports information director for the women's soccer and men's lacrosse teams.
"Pretty cool, huh?" said Dorrance to Lohse, both of whom had surely discussed over their 42 years of friendship if they'd ever gaze upon the stadium before them.
Yet, there it was.
Dorrance's vision had always been for a stadium that wrapped around the field and brought fans closer to the playing surface than they ever were at Fetzer. To accomplish that, the track surrounding the field was removed; the new track and field complex is near Finley Golf Course.
Saturday, fans sitting along the first row were within 10 feet of the natural grass field. Instead of being primarily packed into aluminum bleachers on one side, they could relax in one of the 4,200 individual Carolina Blue chair back seats that cover three sides of the stadium. Or they could freely walk around the larger, yet somehow more intimate, complex.
Those changes not only improved the gameday experience. They also created the sort of home-field advantage that Dorrance hoped they would.
"It was pretty weird not having the blue track around us," said Olivia Ferrucci, a redshirt junior on the women's lacrosse team. "But it's nice because the new stands are all blue, so it's kind of the exact same feeling. Honestly, it's just a way better atmosphere for soccer and lacrosse. The smaller stadium is really, really nice."
And it didn't take long for the Tar Heels to bring it to life.
Shortly after freshman Zachary Tucci won the opening face-off of the men's game, senior Timmy Kelly charged into the attacking zone. He then stopped, pivoted and passed the ball to junior Justin Anderson, who fired a shot past the Denver goalkeeper.
The goal, scored just 43 seconds into the game, marked the first in the new stadium – which hasn't been formally named yet, but in the meantime will be known as the UNC Lacrosse & Soccer Stadium in the spring and the UNC Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium in the fall.
"It was awesome scoring the first goal," Anderson said. "Just being able to have the opportunity to come out here and to have all the support from the school to build us this incredible facility, it's just an honor to be here."
The men's team ultimately lost, despite leading 6-4 at halftime. After the game, Joe Breschi acknowledged the efforts of those who made the stadium a reality.
"I commend the athletic department for putting this facility together," he said. "It's unfortunate that we didn't get the win, but at the end of the day, this is the premier lacrosse facility in the country, no doubt."
Levy echoed those sentiments about two hours later.
"We're just so appreciative of (Associate Athletic Director for Facility Planning and Management) Mike Bunting, (Assistant Director of Athletic Facility Planning and Management) Richie Grimsley and obviously (Director of Athletics) Bubba (Cunningham), who was the one who OK'd it and really pushed to make it happen," Levy said. "We told our team, 'If you see anybody who is working in facilities, please thank them.'
"The past week has been a mad scramble, and we don't know everybody who has contributed to making today happen. But we want to thank everybody because it's been a lot of hard work."
And it's still ongoing.
New offices, meeting rooms and locker rooms for both soccer programs and the women's lacrosse team are yet to be completed; the men's lacrosse facilities will remain in the Loudermilk Center for Excellence. The Hall of Honor, which will be housed in a fully-renovated McCaskill Center, is also a work in progress. So is the area adjacent to the new LED video scoreboard.
But even then, the UNC Lacrosse & Soccer Stadium, as it stands, has already proven to be an admirable home for four of Carolina's most successful programs.
"This venue is amazing," junior William Perry said, "and it was definitely worth the wait."
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ Men's Lacrosse
Attack/Midfield
/ Women's Lacrosse
Attackman
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfielder
/ Men's Lacrosse
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