The University of the District of Columbia is fired up about its newly renovated athletic field—an exciting addition to the Van Ness campus that’s been a decade in the making. UDC Director of Athletics Patricia Thomas couldn’t be more enthusiastic about this milestone.
“This new turf field is a game-changer,” said Thomas. “It’s designed to accommodate soccer as well as men’s and women’s lacrosse. The previous grass field struggled under the wear and tear of three teams, making maintenance a challenge, especially in bad weather. Now, we have an all-weather facility that will serve our student-athletes and the entire university community far better.”
The upgraded facility boasts state-of-the-art features, including a new scoreboard, a cutting-edge sound system, shot clocks for lacrosse, covered benches and new bleachers that can accommodate more than 300 fans. Also, for the first time, the field is fully illuminated, allowing for evening practices and games. “It’s the nicest field in our conference and rivals many Division II or III athletic facilities,” Thomas added.
Another bonus is that the new field now meets NCAA specifications for soccer, which means UDC is eligible to host championship events on campus. “We’ve waited a long time for this, and now we’re ready,” Thomas said with pride.
The field isn’t only for official games and team practices, “All of our student-athletes will be able to use the facility for training,” Thomas explained. “And it’s not just for the athletes. The whole university community—students, faculty and staff—will have opportunities to use the field during open hours. We’re also planning to revitalize our intramural program, especially in soccer, which has always been popular with our students.”
For students looking to enjoy a casual game or some exercise, the process is simple. “We’ll post open field hours on the UDC Athletics website, just like we do for the gym and the pool,” Thomas noted. “We encourage everyone to check the site regularly for updates.”
When asked about the upcoming athletic seasons, Thomas shared that UDC has 30 new student-athletes this year, bringing the university’s total to around 120. “Last year was incredibly successful, both academically and athletically, and I’m looking forward to building on that momentum.”
Thomas highlighted the men’s soccer team, whose players were especially eager to start the season on the new field. “They’ve faced significant challenges, including having to train off-campus early in the morning. Despite these hurdles, they reached the conference championship last season, narrowly losing in the final minutes. With many key players returning, I’m confident they’ll have a stellar season.”
The women’s tennis team also has high expectations after qualifying for the NCAA Championships last spring. “We have some very talented new players joining our strong returning upperclassmen,” Thomas said.
For new and returning students alike, Thomas had a message: “UDC Athletics is here to support your growth, both on and off the field. Our staff is dedicated to providing an outstanding experience, and our upgraded facilities are a testament to that commitment. Whether you’re an athlete or a fan, your involvement is critical to our success.”
Thomas emphasized the importance of fan support, both in person and online. “Our fans are a crucial part of our team’s success. We’re focused on enhancing the fan experience, and we encourage everyone to come out and support our teams. If you can’t make it to the games, you can still watch all our soccer matches streamed live online and follow us on Instagram at @UDCAthletics for the latest updates.”
And check back soon! On Oct. 12, UDC will host alumni games for men’s and women’s lacrosse. “It’s going to be like a homecoming for many of our alumni, and they’re really looking forward to playing on the new field,” said Thomas.