Posted: Jun 09, 2016
Athletics announces the installation of lights at Shewcraft Field
NORTH ADAMS, MA—After a two-year fundraising initiative, the Shewcraft Field Lights are under construction. On Thursday morning, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) kicked off the project, expected to be completed prior to the opening of the fall semester.
The initiative to raise funds for the lights on Shewcraft Field began in earnest in January 2014. Over the two-year period, the Athletics Department partnered with the Office of Institutional Advancement to secure the funds needed to make the project a reality. The College proposed a 1:1 match on all gifts to fund the project and received gifts from alumni, local businesses, and a variety of other constituents, as well as from the proceeds of the 2015 MCLA Athletics Golf Classic
Shewcraft Field opened in fall 2007. The new lighting will enable Trailblazer athletic programs to schedule night games and extend practices. The lights will impact a number of programs at MCLA, including men's and women's soccer, women's lacrosse, and the intramurals program. The additional light will allow MCLA's student athletes more flexibility with practice times, a better fan experience during night games, and a recruiting opportunity for future Trailblazers.
The College will plan an official ribbon cutting once the lights are installed. The first night game scheduled at Shewcraft Field will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 21, when the women's soccer team hosts SUNY Polytechnic Institute. The men's soccer team will host their first night game, challenging MASCAC rival Salem State University, on Sept. 23. Both games start at 6 p.m.
Visit http://athletics.mcla.edu for photos and updates on the lights, or follow MCLA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.