Kwantlen Polytechnic University celebrated as they unveiled a new artificial turf soccer field at Newton Athletic Park in Surrey on Saturday. With Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts and MP Nina Grewal in attendance, the ribbon cutting ceremony officially marked the opening of the facility.
With a Kwantlen scoreboard and the university’s logo at midfield, this all-weather soccer field is the new home field for the university’s varsity team, the Eagles, whose women’s soccer team achieved unprecedented success in Kwantlen history. In 2009, they won the British Columbia Colleges' Athletic Association (BCCAA) provincial championship and the bronze medal at the Canadian Colleges’ Athletic Association (CCAA) national soccer tournament.
Acknowledging support from the federal and municipal governments, Kwantlen president and vice-chancellor David Atkinson is optimistic about the future of Kwantlen’s athletic programs, “This new facility is an excellent example of how things can get done if people work together. The support of the federal government, along with that of the City of Surrey has allowed Kwantlen access to an outstanding facility that will allow our athletic programs to grow and flourish.”
Elise Le Brun, director of athletics and recreation at Kwantlen notes that the new field will benefit the Eagles and the community, “Our goal was to provide our athletes with an exceptional training and competition facility that they could call their own. As well, we wanted members of the Surrey community to have access to a premier soccer facility that they can be proud of.”
Captain of the Eagles women’s soccer team Brittany McNeill is excited about playing on the university’s new soccer field, “This is a demonstration of the growth of our athletic program. We are one of the only schools in the BCCAA have our own turf field, and we feel really lucky.”
Kwantlen’s varsity athletics teams are the Kwantlen Eagles. In basketball, soccer, badminton and golf, they compete in national intercollegiate leagues. For more information about the Kwantlen Eagles or view live webcast, visit kwantlen.ca/eagles or follow the Eagles on Twitter: KwantlenEagles
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