College unveils new field

Soccer players, COC officials celebrate new complex with a ribbon-cutting ceremony

College of the Canyons’ athletes are now playing on a state-of-the-art soccer facility at the college’s Valencia campus.

The college officially revealed its completed turf installation and LED light project at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday before the Western State Conference (WSF) men’s and women’s soccer matches. The college first broke ground on the new facility June 22.

“We’re very excited about the new field and facility being ready and I know the teams are getting anxious to use it,” said Jesse Munoz, COC’s director of public relations and sports information.

The $2 million project was designed to conserve water and reduce field maintenance cost. It was completed in partnership with the Santa Clarita Community College District, Castaic Lake Water Agency and city of Santa Clarita.

The agency contributed $200,000 to the project and the rest was funded by the Santa Clarita Community College District, according to Munoz. The city’s partnership was involved in the planning and development stages of the field and the future partnerships for community events.

The turf field was made by the same company that designed COC’s football field, FieldTurf. The FieldTurf Revolution 360 surface and infill system contains artificial fibers

that have the same biomedical properties of natural grass.

“The development behind it, with the turf and field, is meant to last a little longer and replicate that grass feel,”

Munoz said.

The project also included the installation of four Musco LED stadium lights, which will reduce energy costs and provide consistent light levels.

Munoz said this is the first time the soccer field will have lights. This will allow COC to hold more

community events, night games for COC athletics and night practices to avoid putting players outside during the heat of the day.

“The new facility is a benefit not only to the college, but also to the community,” Munoz said.

Dan Watson/The Signal Members of the College of the Canyons men’s and women’s soccer teams present an honorary soccer ball to College of the Canyons Chancellor Dianne Van Hook, center, during the official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday for the new state-ofthe-art soccer field at the Valencia campus.

Dan Watson/The Signal (See additional photos on signalscv.com) Dozens of members of various soccer teams join dignitaries as they cut the ribbon during the ceremony for the new state-of-the-art COC soccer field at the Valencia campus on Tuesday.