Soccer field construction still delayed

By Angela PennyThe Guardsman

Progress has not been made on a new soccer field that was promised to both City College soccer programs two semesters ago.

Last August, The Guardsman reported that construction of a new soccer-only facility adjacent to Batmale Hall had begun and would be finished by December 2009. However, almost nine months later, there is no evidence that any construction has begun.

“The project is still a go,” women’s athletic director Peg Grady said. “The plans are on hold in the California Division of the State Architect. Once the plans are approved, the project can move forward with the design.”

This was confirmed by the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Peter Goldstein.

“The project is on hold until the State Architect approves the drawings, which should occur within the next few weeks,” Goldstein said.

The field will be partially funded by nearby Lick-Wilmerding High School.

“We’ve been completely left out of the loop,” men’s soccer head coach Adam Lucarelli said. “I talk about the new soccer field when recruiting players, and then when it doesn’t happen, my credibility is put in question.”

He said he was told the plans were postponed twice, but the reasons were never clear. Lucarelli also said all the other teams in the Coast Conference have beautiful fields, and not having a soccer field prevents them from having a “home-field advantage.”

“We play on three different venues for home games,” Lucarelli said. “We have been very successful, even without the field, but having one will make our lives much easier.”

Grady agreed that the process has been very frustrating.

“Our teams have continued to play off campus and at two different sites,” she said. “We look forward to the day when we can both practice and compete on our own campus. It will definitely cut down on travel and field rental costs.”

Women’s soccer head coach Gabe Saucedo, who is heading into his second season with the program, is more content with the current situation.

“We get to play at the brand new facilities at Crocker Amazon, which are five minutes away by car,” Saucedo said. “Since other teams from the community practice there it helps spread the word about our program.”

Former athletic director and current head football coach George Rush said construction plans require the building of a retaining wall at the north end of the facility and confirmed that the school anticipates construction plans to be approved within the next couple of weeks.

“If all goes well we hope to have the field built and ready for play by October,” Rush said.