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MC debuts newly renovated soccer field

Sept. 13, 2021

When the Maryville College men’s and women’s soccer teams took the field for their first home games on Sept. 10, it was the first time they had the opportunity to compete on the newly renovated soccer field on campus.

Funded through a private gift of $1 million, the field has been renovated with natural turf and repositioned to make space future athletic facilities. New lighting has also been installed, along with new seating.

“We could not be more excited to be playing on one of the best playing surfaces in the country!” said Pepe Fernandez, head men’s and women’s soccer coach. “It will enhance our quality of play, our recruiting, and the athletic experience for our soccer players. The beautiful setting, with the Smokies background and the quality of the Bermuda grass, puts our field as one of the top places to play college soccer!”

Maryville College Athletic Director Sara Quatrocky expressed her deep appreciation for this gift.

“This new field will benefit our men’s and women’s soccer teams for years to come,” she said. “We hope that this new field serves as the first step in transforming this part of campus, allowing us to better support our student-athletes and grow our fan base through a more enjoyable spectator experience.”

The field was dedicated during a pre-game ceremony on Sept. 10.

“The entire campus community, especially the men’s and women’s soccer teams, had many reasons to celebrate that night, including a thrilling overtime win on the new field and acknowledging the anonymous donors who were able to make a much-needed project a reality,” Quatrocky said.

Future improvements to the soccer field will include new grandstands and a press box. These plans and the repositioning of the soccer field are part of a larger project to build new locker room facilities and a fan support center, including bathrooms and concessions to serve the soccer, softball and tennis teams. For more information on how to contribute, please contact advancement@maryvillecollege.edu or 865-981-8225.

Photo of MC soccer teams on new field
Members of the Maryville College men’s and women’s soccer teams (and coaching staff) pose for a photo during the dedication of the new field on Sept. 10, 2021. Photo credit: Matthew Winningham
Maryville College is a nationally-ranked institution of higher learning and one of America’s oldest colleges. For more than 200 years we’ve educated students to be giving citizens and gifted leaders, to study everything, so that they are prepared for anything — to address any problem, engage with any audience and launch successful careers right away. Located in Maryville, Tennessee, between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the city of Knoxville, Maryville College offers nearly 1,200  students from around the world both the beauty of a rural setting and the advantages of an urban center, as well as more than 60 majors, seven pre-professional programs and career preparation from their first day on campus to their last. Today, our 10,000 alumni are living life strong of mind and brave of heart and are prepared, in the words of our Presbyterian founder, to “do good on the largest possible scale.”