This season the women’s soccer team will show off their skills in a new stadium which officially opened on Aug. 14.
The stadium includes features such as a video board, bigger speakers and more lighting, promising a new and improved fan experience.
In the works since 2019, the new stadium is something both coaches and players, on the women’s and men’s soccer teams, have been anticipating for a long time. After years of watching football and lacrosse play on the fan-favorite teal turf, they finally have something to call their own.
Women’s soccer captain Gianna Irungaray has played for CCU since her freshman year in 2021 and has been waiting for this moment her entire collegiate career.
“I’ve been dreaming of a new stadium for four years, so bringing it to life is a dream come true. It’s so much fun, such a good atmosphere,” Irungaray said.
Women’s head coach Jo Chubb said rather than just coming to the game to watch, fans are getting a more interactive, memorable experience. She is most excited about her players having their chance to shine and succeed after putting in so much effort during training.
“Most importantly, it gives the lights to [Irungaray] and the seniors, it gives them a home for a year that they can be proud of and a place where they can thrive. I think that’s the most important thing,” Chubb said.
The team has spent time preparing for their season by developing new strategies and tactics before their Sun Belt Conference kickoff game Sept. 20 versus Old Dominion University.
Irungaray is hopeful for the upcoming season and said they have been working hard to come together as a team, despite still being so young.
“Just the way we play, we are a pretty possession-based team, and we are really learning how each other plays,” Irungaray said. “Our chemistry is starting to show and we are a young team, you can’t really tell.”
Chubb said Irungaray is to thank for a lot of the team’s successes, in terms of bonding and coming together as one. She said this is noticeable both at practice and in the way they play.
“There’s a natural chemistry between the group right now and [Irungaray’s] our main culprit, the players like messing with each other and playing pranks, when I observe that I know we are in a good place right now,” Chubb said.
