 University Stadium at SUNY Fredonia |
A dedication for the completion of Phase II of the soccer/lacrosse stadium was held during the annual soccer tournament, the Clarion Classic, on Friday, Sept. 11.
Joining President Dennis Hefner to commemorate the occasion were Director of Athletics Greg Prechtl, ’69, SUNYAC Commissioner and inaugural Fredonia State soccer Coach Pat Damore, Fredonia College Council Chair JoAnn Niebel, the men’s and women’s soccer teams, the Fredonia State cheerleaders, Student Association President Anthony Faraco and Vice President Nicole Matteson, and other campus officials.
Members of the Dunkirk High School Junior ROTC program were on hand to present the colors. Joining them were some of the top vocalists from the School of Music who, under the direction of Dr. Gerald Gray, sang a rendition of the national anthem specially arranged by Drs. Robert Deemer and Karl Boelter. This same group of singers performed the anthem at a Buffalo Bills game later that fall (see back cover).
The stadium, which began operating in 2007, now boasts such amenities as a new entrance and traffic circle, ticket office, restrooms, team meeting rooms, concession stands and a press box.
“It was a long time coming, and I think a lot of our competitors will be envious of what we have here,” said Prechtl. “It will give our coaches a leg up when it comes to recruiting, and it’s a real positive for the athletic program.”
The Blue Devil men proceeded to beat St. Joseph’s College that evening by a 2-1 score, and went on to win the tournament the next day with a 2-1 victory over Penn State-Behrend. The Lady Blue Devils dropped an earlier game Friday to St. Lawrence by a 3-0 margin, but had better success the next day with Penn State-Behrend, which it played to a 2-2 tie.
