June 16, 2009

Day One Photo Gallery - June 15

Construction began Monday morning on the Lamar Soccer Complex which will become the Cardinals a new home by this fall. It is the sport's third season at Lamar.

For the first two seasons, home games were played at Cardinal Stadium - now Provost Umphrey Stadium. The football field is under construction for state-of-the-art artificial turf. The stadium and field house will be renovated as well.

When the women take the field this fall under second-year head coach Dewi Hardman, it will be adjacent to Vincent-Beck Stadium on the south end of campus. The team improved on its inaugural season to four wins in 2008, along with its first two Southland Conference victories. The full-size natural grass field capable of hosting post-season competition will include permanent seating for 500. Lighting is planned to allow night games and will be installed under a separate contract.

Crews from Pepper-Lawson Construction of Houston will construct and prepare the field in time for play by late August. Construction of the soccer field house will continue through November.

The new field house will include offices for the soccer program as well as locker rooms for home and visitor teams. It will also include an athletic training room, laundry room and equipment storage.