f1977bbaae050b86efd209fd6935f310.jpg

Roberts Stadium showcases soccer

PU hosts doubleheader Friday

By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
   Impressive.
   That’s a word that can be used to describe the new Roberts Stadium soccer complex at Princeton University.
   Looking for two words? How about very impressive.
   After 16 months of construction the PU men and women will both open their season on Friday on Myslik Field in Roberts Stadium. The facility is one of the finest in the nation for soccer — maybe the finest.
   ”It’s hard not to step out here and not get excited,” said Princeton men’s coach Jim Barlow, who will begin his 13th season as head coach when the Tigers host Lehigh at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. “Right away you see the grass field and the turf field and it is a perfect soccer environment. You could not ask for a better venue to train and to play. I think it’s hard not to get excited about playing every day when you see this facility.
   ”When we bring recruits down here to see it, they’re just shocked with their mouths wide open. They never expected such a nice facility. Hopefully that will pay off in the long term. When we see it with the full crowd and the atmosphere we expect on opening night it will attract a lot of people to want to play here.”
   The Roberts Stadium complex includes Myslik Field, which is a sand based, vertically drained, bluegrass sod field. There is a computer monitored and controlled irrigation system. Myslik Field has a capacity of 3,000 with general fixed seating for 2,356 spectators. The complex also includes Plummer Field, which is a Duraspine FieldTurf field specifically designed for soccer. There is field lighting for both fields.
   For the players, the facility also includes team rooms with shower and restroom facilities, as well as a trainer’s room. There are concession facilities and public restrooms.
   After a year of having to play home games in Princeton Stadium, both programs are now in one of the finest facilities in the nation. It was a tough wait, but certainly worthwhile.
   ”It was tough playing in the stadium last year,” said PU women’s coach Julie Shackford, whose team will open at home Friday at 5 p.m. against Boston University. “But I would have played in a parking lot to be able to get this. We could have played on the playground. From a recruiting perspective and for all the people who support the program, they’ll be in comfortable digs. At Lourie-Love we had port-a-potties. Now we have restrooms and that beautiful big walkway. We love that we have seating on the endlines.”
   For the players, especially the seniors, the chance to play in a facility as fine as any in the country is one they’re looking forward to.
   ”I feel bad for the seniors from last year who aren’t going to get a chance to play on it,” said Princeton senior captain Devin Muntz. “I had a lot of anticipation for the project, even when I was getting recruited. Just seeing the way it came out, I can’t picture anything better. Everything around it is great. I love the scenery with the trees around it. The great thing about the other field was the trees and the fans right around the field. We kept a lot of that and also upgraded, which is perfect.
   ”All the details are perfect. Professional style nets. There is a scoreboard down on the field for us to see. It makes you feel good as a player.”
   For Barlow, there is one other touch that makes the whole complex special — having Myslik Fieldnamed after former Tiger player and coach, the late Rob Myslik.
   ”For me, having the game field named after my best friend is really important,” Barlow said. “I think it is a great tribute to Rob to have the game field named after him. He would have loved a facility like this to play on. Every time we step on it and see his name it means so much to me. One of our biggest awards is named for him and to have his memory passed on in both the award and the naming of the field is special for me.”
   The complex as a whole is a special place. One that was eagerly anticipated and is now ready to be used.