Turf may change the games
Molly Fraher
Issue date: 5/13/09 Section: News
Mounds of dirt and an 8-foot-tall fence still surround it. The sun beams down off its metal bleachers and blinds any passerby in the area. It may not look like much now, but in the fall, Castleton's Spartan Stadium will be ready to turn heads.
Aside from the permanent seating, press booth, restrooms and concession stand the stadium has to offer faithful fans, the state-of-the-art artificial turf will bring about some changes for CSC's fall athletes.
Whether it is women's soccer, men's soccer or field hockey, all players on all rosters will have to make some adjustments.
"I'm excited to play on the turf, but I'll also be missing the grass fields because it's what I learned to play on," said freshman field hockey player Amanda Kuchinski. "It's what I grew up on."
Both freshman field hockey player Angelica Mazzola and sophomore men's soccer player Christopher Mulholland say they expect that the turf will make their style of play go quicker.
"When we play on turf it is a different game than grass," said Mulholland. "We are much faster."
Mazzola echoed Mulholland's thoughts.
"I definitely think that the turf will have an impact on field hockey, it will make passing and the all around movement of the ball faster," Mazzola said.
But is faster always better?
Junior women's soccer player Ashley Hertford is torn on whether or not the switch to turf is a good idea.
"The soccer ball moves a lot quicker on turf and we are not used to that," Hertford said.
She also points out that on grass, players of both sports have more control over the ball and things can get a little shaky when the game switches over to a flat, fast surface.
"It's hard to be as fast as the ball," said Hertford. "I prefer grass."
But head field hockey and women's lacrosse coach Tammy Landon is enthusiastic about the new turf.
"Often our grass fields are not able to be used because of standing water, snow or mud," said Landon. "With the new turf we will be able to practice and have games because the turf conditions will always be consistent."
Aside from the permanent seating, press booth, restrooms and concession stand the stadium has to offer faithful fans, the state-of-the-art artificial turf will bring about some changes for CSC's fall athletes.
Whether it is women's soccer, men's soccer or field hockey, all players on all rosters will have to make some adjustments.
"I'm excited to play on the turf, but I'll also be missing the grass fields because it's what I learned to play on," said freshman field hockey player Amanda Kuchinski. "It's what I grew up on."
Both freshman field hockey player Angelica Mazzola and sophomore men's soccer player Christopher Mulholland say they expect that the turf will make their style of play go quicker.
"When we play on turf it is a different game than grass," said Mulholland. "We are much faster."
Mazzola echoed Mulholland's thoughts.
"I definitely think that the turf will have an impact on field hockey, it will make passing and the all around movement of the ball faster," Mazzola said.
But is faster always better?
Junior women's soccer player Ashley Hertford is torn on whether or not the switch to turf is a good idea.
"The soccer ball moves a lot quicker on turf and we are not used to that," Hertford said.
She also points out that on grass, players of both sports have more control over the ball and things can get a little shaky when the game switches over to a flat, fast surface.
"It's hard to be as fast as the ball," said Hertford. "I prefer grass."
But head field hockey and women's lacrosse coach Tammy Landon is enthusiastic about the new turf.
"Often our grass fields are not able to be used because of standing water, snow or mud," said Landon. "With the new turf we will be able to practice and have games because the turf conditions will always be consistent."
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