Aug. 18, 2014
DAVIS, Calif. - Field hockey fans can take advantage of an opportunity to join head coach Tiffany Huisman, campus dignitaries, UC Davis staff, current and former Aggie field hockey student-athletes at Saturday's dedication of Aggie Field Hockey Facility -- the new home of UC Davis field hockey.
Reserve your spot for this weekend's ribbon-cutting ceremony by contacting Alli Kopas, via e-mail, at akkopas@ucdavis.edu. Kopas will accept RSVPs through the end of the business day on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
"This is an exciting step forward for the women's field hockey program and one the university community will be very proud of," said Director of Athletics Terry Tumey. "This has been a dream for the program for several years and we're thrilled to see it start to come to fruition."
Saturday's ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the new facility, located on the corner of La Rue and Dairy roads next to the Tercero residential facilities.
A game between UC Davis field hockey alumnae and current players will take place following the dedication.
There is no charge to attend the ribbon-cutting event and game at the new facility.
The $3.2 million facility -- built thanks to the collaborative efforts of donors, parents, the Athletics Department and the campus -- broke ground in late May and is ready for the Aggies' Aug. 31 season opener versus Fairfield.
Festivities will continue at the Moss Patio, located at the Alumni and Visitors Center from 5-7 p.m. later that night. Admission to Saturday evening's event is $20 per person ($15 for alumnae) and includes a taco bar and beverages.
Space at the Moss Patio is limited, supporters of Aggie field hockey are encouraged to contact Kopas as quickly as possible to purchase tickets.
UC Davis has played and practiced at Aggie Stadium since resuming varsity competition in 2009. The stadium's artificial turf is ideal for football and lacrosse but provides a much slower-paced game for field hockey. The new facility will have a USA Field Hockey certified turf that will provide the Aggies the same regulation playing surface used by nearly every other collegiate program in the country.
With a sport-specific facility of its own, UC Davis field hockey student-athletes and staff will have more flexibility in scheduling classes instead of having to share Aggie Stadium with other athletic programs and their respective practice schedules.
"[Aggie Field Hockey Facility] is going to be a great recruiting asset for us," Huisman said. "It will also help us start developing our skills into those that will help us compete on a national level."
