Adding a new sport in both men’s and women’s divisions doesn’t happen without a fair amount of work. Coaches have to start from scratch and players have to commit to a work-in-progress team, and in some cases, you have construction on new facilities to accommodate the new athletes.
The new soccer teams at Pratt Community College will be an example of totally starting from scratch, including the construction of a soccer field on campus.
It won’t be long before the PCC campus will inaugurate its first soccer field. Construction began in late May when Simpson Dirt Construction began carving a new pitch directly east of the PCC Rodeo Arena.
Both men’s and women’s team will begin play at the new facility this fall, with the women hosting their first home match on Tuesday, Aug. 31, and the men opening at home on Saturday, Sept. 4.
“It’s exciting news to have our own soccer field here on campus,” said head women’s coach Jerrid Schicke. “We look forward to hosting our soccer games, and also having camps and clinics for the Pratt community.
“Having a first class soccer complex will certainly help attract high school soccer players to PCC.”
The men’s coach, Kevin Kewley, was equally excited about the new facility.
“This grass field will meet all FIFA standards, and we anticipate this to be a quality surface that rivals other pitches in the conference,” Kewley said. “We are excited about being able to host games on campus.”
Starting fresh with a brand new program, Kewley knows that a brand new field will help bolster his recruiting efforts.
“I feel that this will have an immediate impact on the amount of student support we will have at the games,” he said. “This will positively influence recruiting as well.”
According to PCC’s Director of Athletics Kurt McAfee, the dirt work is completed and ready for sod as soon as it is delivered. Expectations are that the field will be ready for the first home games.
New soccer student-athletes will begin their work preparing for the upcoming inaugural season on August 6.
