Dec. 2, 2009
When the Georgetown men's and women's soccer programs stepped onto North Kehoe Field this Fall, they did so with a heightened sense of pride and professionalism. As they dug the studs of their cleats into the Bermuda grass and the Hoya faithful cheered fervently, they realized that their home venue had undergone a very visible transformation: new wind screens and signage now lined the field's perimeter. A product of the fundraising efforts of passionate friends and family of the programs, the campaign for the wind screens astonishingly lasted less than one month.
"This was the first step in our work to improve the facility," said Head Men's Soccer Coach Brian Wiese, "It makes North Kehoe feel like a great soccer venue, and it has given our program[s] a strong sense of professionalism." And the campus community immediately rallied behind the program's efforts, as the men's team's opening weekend drew over 3,000 spectators to watch the Hoyas take on national powerhouses California-Berkeley and UCLA. The team dropped its tie with Cal and knocked off the then No. 19 Bruins.
In addition, Wiese was especially pleased with the collaborative work between Georgetown staff and enthused donors that made the wind screens a reality: "The project's turnaround time was pretty unbelievable. As soon as our donors caught wind of the opportunity to help raise the funds necessary to mount the wind screens, they contacted Athletics staff and made it happen."
The fundraising efforts displayed by the wind screens have also sent a message to the student-athletes on the men's and women's teams alike. Wiese intimates, "As soon as the screens were mounted, both inside and outside of the stadium's perimeter, there was a new feeling among the players and the campus community. North Kehoe Field is now branded as the home of the Hoyas, and it has made a huge difference."
As the two programs head into the off-season, a certain excitement seems to resonate from the locker rooms. A campus-wide effort to continue to fashion North Kehoe as one of the better college soccer venues in the country will pave the way for some exciting home contests in the spring and next year. Until then, the men and women will continue to commit tireless hours in the weight room, on the track and on the fields to ensure that the next time they take to North Kehoe Field will be a special occasion.
