DelVal Football Team Wins First Game on New Turf

Delaware Valley College has converted the Robert A. Lipinski field at James Work Memorial Stadium from grass to a multi-sport artificial turf field.

The college dedicated the new turf field at the first home football game of the season on Saturday.

During the ceremony, DelVal honored College Trustee Robert Lipinski '80, for making the renovation possible. 

Lipinski, whose name was on the field from a previous gift, made a seven-figure lead gift to the College’s “Realizing the Vision” capital campaign, to fund the renovation, according to a press release from the college.

"It makes me so proud to be part of Realizing The Vision and moving this college forward," said Lipinski at the ceremony. "Let's break in this field right and bring home a win."

The football won its first game on the turf, beating Rowan University 35-27.

“The field is going to improve the experience for all of our students and will be used by intramurals and for recreation for students, staff, and faculty as well,” said DelVal Athletic Director Steve Cantrell. “It’s about much more than a nice, new playing surface; the turf field is going to help us with attracting and retaining top students.”

The new field includes a three-lane recreational jogging track and can be used for several sports including men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey and football, plus intramurals, according to information from the college.

Cantrell said the project has addressed needs of existing sports and is allowing the College to add new sports.

“The sport of field hockey has moved almost exclusively to turf and we were facing scheduling problems without having a turf field,” said Cantrell. 

“This field gives those athletes a place to compete and practice. We’re also adding men’s and women’s lacrosse for the 2014 to 2015 season, which we couldn’t have done without the artificial turf.”

The field is just one part of the College’s plan to upgrade athletic facilities. Future phases include improvements such as: renovating the stadium with better seating and media spaces, and a second turf field on the other side of the SEPTA Line with an eight-lane NCAA regulation track.