University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Recognizing Youth Sports, Honoring A Legend: Dorrance Field At Play2Dream Legacy Stadium
June 29, 2026 | Men's Lacrosse, Men's Soccer, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of North Carolina has expanded the name of its soccer and lacrosse venue to Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium, bringing recognition to youth sports opportunities while continuing to honor legendary women's soccer coach Anson Dorrance.
Kathleen Welsh and Gary Loveman, parents of two former Tar Heel women's soccer student-athletes, made a leadership gift to broaden the name of the stadium, which was christened Dorrance Field in 2019 to celebrate the 22-time national championship coach's extraordinary impact on the University and the remarkable history of women's soccer at Carolina and globally.
Play2Dream is a private family foundation. Founded in 2009, it brings fun fitness through playgrounds, community areas and sports that support underserved youth. The Foundation also supports educational and charitable organizations that provide clothing, books and other educational resources.
"Play2Dream is about the joy of play, just for the sake of playing," Welsh said. "It is Tobin Heath juggling the ball by herself after a hard game or practice. It's about Mia Hamm practicing hard on her own, pushing to get better, when no one is watching. It's about the dream as a child, to one day wear a UNC uniform and play under the lights. It's about Kristine Lilly, Tiffany Roberts and others fulfilling their little girl dreams, then coaching other little girls to continue the legacy. It's about the women, like April Heinrichs, from the early UNC teams, fighting to play, playing with grit and such competitiveness, joining together as a team, proving that together they are greater than the sum of their parts. And proving that Anson's leadership and all the coaching and staff support was the start to a true legacy of players and teams, at UNC and beyond."
The design of the stadium and team building at Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium are meant to capture the effervescent Carolina spirit and the history of the legendary players, teams and coaches that came before, Welsh added. The glass offices overlook the field and are designed to allow easy collaboration among members of the staff. The color and design of the locker room create a distinctive feeling of comfort for student-athletes.
"It was intended to bring those dreams of young players alive and to give them a real feeling of home, a place to be," she said. "The locker rooms are designed to feel like a home, with a dance floor to psych up before a game and celebrate after. The multipurpose team and coaching rooms promote player development and ease communication, even during halftime. Players have come home at UNC."
Naming the stadium Play2Dream Legacy serves as a reminder of the power of youth sports while celebrating a beloved former Carolina coach. Dorrance's 22 national championships are the most by a head coach in any Division I sport in college athletics history. He spent 45 years directing the Tar Heels' women's soccer program and coached the men's program from 1977-88. Carolina women's soccer is the most decorated program in the history of the sport.
"The Welsh-Loveman family's investment in Carolina Athletics can be seen every day by our student-athletes," said Bubba Cunningham, UNC's Director of Athletics. "When a significant need was there, they answered. Because of Kathy and Gary's generosity, there are four teams who have a beautiful space to call home. They are committed to helping Tar Heel student-athletes excel, and their support has created a lasting impact."
Since the field was re-dedicated in 2019 in Dorrance's name, UNC's lacrosse and soccer programs have won three NCAA and six Atlantic Coast Conference championships.
"The most critical element to competing for championships is the quality of your recruiting," said Dorrance. "Thanks to Kathy and Gary's generosity, our soccer and lacrosse teams, four programs with national championship pedigrees, get to play in the finest stadium in Division I. This privilege gives our coaches the opportunity to attract student-athletes who desire to play, to dream, and to burnish the legacy of these elite programs in the heart of the UNC campus. Kathy was a key contributor to the unique design of the stadium and team building, and her creative choices were instrumental in it being first class."
Kathleen Welsh and Gary Loveman, parents of two former Tar Heel women's soccer student-athletes, made a leadership gift to broaden the name of the stadium, which was christened Dorrance Field in 2019 to celebrate the 22-time national championship coach's extraordinary impact on the University and the remarkable history of women's soccer at Carolina and globally.
Play2Dream is a private family foundation. Founded in 2009, it brings fun fitness through playgrounds, community areas and sports that support underserved youth. The Foundation also supports educational and charitable organizations that provide clothing, books and other educational resources.
"Play2Dream is about the joy of play, just for the sake of playing," Welsh said. "It is Tobin Heath juggling the ball by herself after a hard game or practice. It's about Mia Hamm practicing hard on her own, pushing to get better, when no one is watching. It's about the dream as a child, to one day wear a UNC uniform and play under the lights. It's about Kristine Lilly, Tiffany Roberts and others fulfilling their little girl dreams, then coaching other little girls to continue the legacy. It's about the women, like April Heinrichs, from the early UNC teams, fighting to play, playing with grit and such competitiveness, joining together as a team, proving that together they are greater than the sum of their parts. And proving that Anson's leadership and all the coaching and staff support was the start to a true legacy of players and teams, at UNC and beyond."
The design of the stadium and team building at Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium are meant to capture the effervescent Carolina spirit and the history of the legendary players, teams and coaches that came before, Welsh added. The glass offices overlook the field and are designed to allow easy collaboration among members of the staff. The color and design of the locker room create a distinctive feeling of comfort for student-athletes.
"It was intended to bring those dreams of young players alive and to give them a real feeling of home, a place to be," she said. "The locker rooms are designed to feel like a home, with a dance floor to psych up before a game and celebrate after. The multipurpose team and coaching rooms promote player development and ease communication, even during halftime. Players have come home at UNC."
Naming the stadium Play2Dream Legacy serves as a reminder of the power of youth sports while celebrating a beloved former Carolina coach. Dorrance's 22 national championships are the most by a head coach in any Division I sport in college athletics history. He spent 45 years directing the Tar Heels' women's soccer program and coached the men's program from 1977-88. Carolina women's soccer is the most decorated program in the history of the sport.
"The Welsh-Loveman family's investment in Carolina Athletics can be seen every day by our student-athletes," said Bubba Cunningham, UNC's Director of Athletics. "When a significant need was there, they answered. Because of Kathy and Gary's generosity, there are four teams who have a beautiful space to call home. They are committed to helping Tar Heel student-athletes excel, and their support has created a lasting impact."
Since the field was re-dedicated in 2019 in Dorrance's name, UNC's lacrosse and soccer programs have won three NCAA and six Atlantic Coast Conference championships.
"The most critical element to competing for championships is the quality of your recruiting," said Dorrance. "Thanks to Kathy and Gary's generosity, our soccer and lacrosse teams, four programs with national championship pedigrees, get to play in the finest stadium in Division I. This privilege gives our coaches the opportunity to attract student-athletes who desire to play, to dream, and to burnish the legacy of these elite programs in the heart of the UNC campus. Kathy was a key contributor to the unique design of the stadium and team building, and her creative choices were instrumental in it being first class."
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