COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Due to construction of Haws Field, the new soccer field at Saint John's University, the Johnnies' soccer team will play all seven of its home soccer matches in Clemens Stadium this fall. Five of the matches will be played at night under the lights, which were installed in late March.
“In an ideal world, which Johnnie soccer will step into in 2013 (when Haws Field will open for play), soccer would always be played on a flawless grass pitch,” SJU head coach John Haws said. "Without that as an option this fall, we are excited to bring our precise brand of soccer to such a historic football venue."
“And, to top it off, five of the matches will be played under the lights. With gracious flexibility from our home opponents, we were able to turn a tough situation into a great opportunity to showcase Johnnie soccer.”
The two Sunday-afternoon matches will stay at their scheduled times, while five others shift to an evening start.
The match against Carleton, originally scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, the exact same time SJU hosts St. Thomas in football, will now be played at 7 p.m. Sept. 14. The regular-season finale against Concordia-Moorhead, meanwhile, will be played at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 27, a few hours after the SJU football team concludes its game with Gustavus Adolphus as part of Family Weekend.
Back in February, Coborn's Inc. announced a $400,000 gift to Saint John's for a new soccer field in honor of Pat Haws, retired SJU head soccer coach. Construction on Haws Field began in May.
Key features of the new Haws Field will include a natural grass playing surface (sand-peat topsoil blend) and permanent team dugouts, as well as berms around the field for spectators to watch the game from.
SJU begins its 2012 season Aug. 31 at Minnesota-Morris before hosting Luther (Iowa) for its home opener Sept. 2.
2012 SJU Home Soccer Schedule
Sunday, Sept. 2: Luther (Iowa), 4:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 14: Carleton, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 16: Wartburg (Iowa), 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 26: Augsburg, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 17: Macalester, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 23: Hamline, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27: Concordia, 7:30 p.m.
*all home matches played in Clemens Stadium
