Sports : Vikettes play first VS soccer game on new field

Grace Milroy races for position vs. Western Dubuque.

Lindsey Cornell battles the WD defenders for the ball near the goal in Monday's home opener.

The portable speaker and scoreboard stayed inside.

Bleachers replaced lawn chairs and blankets – although many of the spectators brought blankets for warmth in the windy, rainy 40-degree weather.

The concession stand was open for the very first time during a VS soccer game.

And the players started the game on one of the newest fields – a sharp contrast to the previous years, when home soccer games took place up the hill, on a sloping field where the north goal was at a noticeably higher elevation than the south goal, the playing surface included ankle-turning divots, and a bright orange snow fence helped keep errant kicks from bouncing onto 21st Street.

And when they played the National Anthem before the game, the players could clearly see The Star Spangled Banner waving from the flag pole near the scoreboard.

For the first time, ever, a Vinton-Shellsburg soccer team played on the artificial field turf at the Karr Athletic Complex. The weather was not favorable, and the outcome was disappointing – the Vikettes lost to Western Dubuque, 4-0.

But players reported enjoying the new surface.

"She said It was a cool new experience," said Tami Griffith, mom to senior Maci. "She really liked it."

Field conditions, scheduling and safety advantages

Vikette Coach Dave Cornell said the new field is an improvement in many ways.

"The biggest advantage is field conditions," said Cornell. "With playing a spring season in Iowa weather is such a factor. Having a field that can be used in all conditions is huge. If we had been playing on grass we would have been a lot more likely to postpone yesterday because of the cold and wet field. Knowing that a muddy field wasn't going to be an issue we were able to go as scheduled."

Safety is also a big issue, says the coach.

"Other fields we have used have been uneven and hard and injuries were always a concern. Having a completely smooth and softer surface definitely is safer," he adds.

Also from a maintenance perspective, Cornell says it is nice not to have to worry about painting and faded field lines.

The Vikings will play their first game on the field turf this Thursday, when they host Maquoketa. The boys’ game was originally scheduled for Friday, but now the Vikings will play Thursday. The girls will travel to Maquoketa on Friday. On Tuesday, the Viking game at Western Dubuque was postponed until May 19 due to rain.

See the Viking schedule/score page HERE.

See more photos of the Vikette game HERE.