The Ferris soccer program and intramural teams will have a new home soon as it appears construction on new facilities are near completion.
Near the end of 2015, it was announced that the university would be demolishing South campus apartments as a part of a $4.9 million project. The result of the projects will be the creation of new soccer fields on South Street opposite of Top Taggart Field.
The new fields create a safe and more convenient place for intramural teams to compete, as students will no longer have to cross the main road. A regulation-sized field will also give the women’s soccer team the ability to host intercollegiate tournament play in the future.
“To have a regulation-sized field of our own is going to be huge come tournament time,” said junior midfielder Rachel Fouts. “It’s nice knowing that if we finish in the top four next year, we will be able to host a game on our brand-new field.”
Throughout the 27 years the Ferris women’s soccer team has been around, there has been an absence of a home turf for the team. With these new fields, the soccer team has something to look forward to next season.
“It gives us a sense of home to know we have a place that everyone knows is ours. We can’t thank Ferris enough for improving our fields,” said freshman goalkeeper Grace Kraft.
The new facilities plan called for a mixture of artificial turf and natural grass. With the turf already in place, it appears the university is now waiting to see grass begin to grow.
“The synthetic field is likely to see its first use from intramural sports,” said Associate Vice President for Physical Plant Mike Hughes per Ferris State University news. “It will take a while to get natural turf in that area up to a competitive level.”
The new facilities are expected to be ready for use by the Fall of 2017 and will be complete in phases throughout 2018 to avoid disrupting soccer and intramural programs.