ANDERSON, S.C. – When the Anderson University men's and women's soccer teams return to the Electric City during the dog days of summer in mid-August, the coaches, players and staff will experience what no Trojan soccer team has undertaken since the 2009 campaign – training and playing under the lights.
"The opportunity to have lights on our soccer field will provide the student- athletes more flexibility to practice at night as well as entertain our conference opponents for night games," said Anderson Director of Athletics Bill D'Andrea. "Both Anderson student-athletes as well as our opponents will miss less class time and we have the latitude to accommodate scheduling and play games at night. We anticipate with the addition of lights that our student and community support regarding attendance will improve."
The Black and Gold soccer squads moved from their previous location behind the Abney Athletic Center to Trojan Stadium on the Athletic Campus prior to Anderson's inaugural season in the South Atlantic Conference in 2010. The men's team notched one of its most impressive seasons in school history, while posting a stellar 10-2 home record during their first season at Trojan Stadium on their way to an appearance in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. The women's squad notched a 6-3 home record in 2010 after winning their first four matches at the new stadium.
"Lights for soccer means an atmosphere for the players, the students, the campus and the soccer community to embrace the excitement of the program's success," added women's soccer head coach Julie Davis Carlson. "It will help define a new athletic culture in the fall term of the academic year and will draw a new audience and is a huge selling point in recruiting. Recruits will be able to visualize themselves at Anderson University as a member of the Trojan family committed to Athletic Excellence and Success. Stadium lighting brings the ability to allow for additional flexibility with scheduling, academic classes and coordinating between the men's and women's soccer programs. It will also allow us to explore playoff bidding opportunities in the SAC and NCAA tournaments."
The Trojan Athletic Department turned to Musco Lighting, an industry leader in sports lighting, to illuminate the soccer stadium after gaining first-hand experience with the lighting systems at its state-of the-art softball and tennis facilities.
"With the addition of lights at Trojan Stadium, we are all set for some exciting times," noted head men's soccer coach Michael Zion. "The idea of having an atmosphere that will enhance the experience for our players, student body, and community is now coming to light. Playing in the heat of the day in August and September can be brutal. The heat definitely affects the overall performance and quality of the game. There are a lot of great things happening here at AU and this is another move that solidifies the fact that Anderson athletics is on the move. As a program we are thankful and excited. We are looking forward to providing some quality entertainment for everyone."
Student-athletes for most fall sports are scheduled to move in on Saturday, Aug. 12, with their first training sessions occurring two days later. The Trojan women are slated to debut under the lights against Lynn University in their home opener, Sept. 7, while the men will play host to North Georgia a day later.
