Thursday, May 3, 2018
by Northwest Nazarene Athletic Communications

NAMPA, Idaho—In a move that will bolster the Northwest Nazarene University soccer programs, the student body and the Nampa community, the school announced Thursday it will build a turf soccer field in time for the fall season.
 
FieldTurf CORE 2.0 is a top of the line surface that was recently installed at Gillette Stadium where the New England Patriots and New England Revolution play.  "I think it will help us better compete with the rest of the conference and hopefully help us break more records," NNU women's soccer player Olivia Carter said. "I'm super excited."
 
Construction on the turf field will begin May 16 and be completed for play in August. The new field is phase one of a process that will eventually see lights installed in 2019 and the addition of club soccer and lacrosse at NNU.
 
"This is a real benefit for not just women's and men's soccer, but for the campus community as a whole," men's soccer coach Joel DeLass said.  In addition to club sports, the campus student body will have access to the turf field for intramural championship games and the existing fields will be freed up for intramurals.
 
The new field should also be a boon in the recruiting process as NNU joins the majority of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in having a turf playing surface. "It is a huge step forward to getting recruits," said Mary Trigg, women's soccer coach. "This helps us stay with the high level of our conference." That fact isn't lost on the current Nighthawks, who will be able to play and practice on a surface comparable to that used throughout the Northwest.
 
"It helps the quality of the game," NNU men's soccer player Alex Mitrovic said. "Surface is the most important thing and having a good field is the essence of everything. Recruits coming in and seeing the turf, they will be excited. The program and the school will benefit from it."
 
The new field is just one of many recent and ongoing projects at NNU. The school recently broke ground on a new $15 million student commons. In the past three years, through the generosity of NNU's alumni and friends, athletics resurfaced and named the Bohner Track and Field, added new bleachers inside the Johnson Sports Center, constructed stands at the Bobby Halle Softball Complex, and constructed the Tiny Bellamy grandstand and Gil Craker pressbox at the Elmore W. Vail baseball field.
 
"We couldn't be more thrilled to be able to provide a high-quality field for our student-athletes and coaches," NNU athletic director Kelli Lindley said. "This is an exciting time for NNU athletics as we continue to make significant progress on and off the playing surface within the GNAC and NCAA Division II."  It will also be the only turf soccer field in the city of Nampa and will be available for rental usage for high schools, clubs and adult leagues. NNU will continue to offer its indoor turf field for rent as well.
 
NNU remains — and will continue to be — student-centered by providing top-notch facilities for academics and athletics. "Northwest Nazarene University is very fortunate to have had financial support from alumni and friends that have enabled us to upgrade our facilities and add to the landscape of the campus," said Carey Cook, Vice President for Student Life.