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Field of Dreams Newsletter
April 2009
Dominican University of California is planning to build a new 110,000 square-foot outdoor athletic complex in preparation for its move to NCAA II in September 2009. Project news and updates follow:
Ed Glantz '81 played on Dominican's first men's soccer team. Today, he dreams of a field that will support Dominican soccer--the players and their fans.
"When I came to Dominican in 1977, our men's basketball team practiced in "the barn"--cold, drafty, leaky, and barely large enough for a regulation-sized court. Most home games had to be played off-site, many in local high school gymnasiums. Today, the basketball teams have the Conlan Recreation Center--what a gem! I couldn’t be happier for the players and their fans. Dominican basketball finally has a home that matches the quality of its teams, encourages student and community attendance at games, and fosters the development of team and school spirit.
But I was not a basketball player. I was a soccer player. When Dominican formed its first-ever men's soccer team in 1978, our practice field in Forest Meadows was about half its current size. Our games were played elsewhere, which meant lots of traveling and no fans. Still, we had fun, and we may have won a game or two along the way. Over the years, the Forest Meadows field has been enlarged and the playing conditions are much improved. But think--if only the soccer teams had the equivalent of the Conlan Center! Imagine an NCAA-class field for NCAA-class teams--what a thing that would be for the players, for the fans, and for Dominican."
Our vision is "years of productive play for better people, a better University, and a better community."
Our mission is "to build it."
If you believe in our vision, please support our mission with your gift today. Click here to donate or explore other ways to get involved.
| Early Bird Drawing Dates Loom |
Two additional $1,000 cash prize early bird Car Raffle drawings will take place on Monday, April 20 at the Dominican Golf Tournament and Saturday, April 25 at Reunion Weekend. The grand prize drawing for a Honda Fit Sport or $10,000 cash will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2009. Net proceeds benefit Dominican's Field of Dreams campaign. Tickets cost just $20. Click here or visit www.dominican.edu (search: Car Raffle) for more information and to purchase tickets today.
| Dominican Lacrosse: On the Move |
With established programs and a loyal fan base on the East coast, lacrosse is moving West. Now the fastest growing sport in the country, lacrosse is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing sports in the Bay Area, and at Dominican, Head Coach Ned Webster is building a program with a strong foundation based on good students, good athletes, and good people.
When Dominican joins NCAA II in Fall 2009, the University's lacrosse program will become one of only three NCAA-sanctioned programs in California. This is a tremendous opportunity for Dominican to gain recognition for a solid program, and Coach Webster is working to position his team for this occasion.
Lacrosse is the only sport at the University that is recruiting nationally, but attracting top players proves difficult when the Forest Meadows field is held up alongside other colleges' fields. A smooth surface is essential to lacrosse; the long grass and uneven surfaces at Forest Meadows slow down the pace of play. For this reason, Coach Webster sees Dominican's Field of Dreams as a real advantage in recruiting new talent and a significant step in the continued success of his program.
Additionally, Coach Webster believes that the field will be a draw for East coast teams looking for a "vacation" from the February and March weather. With eastern teams willing and eager to travel to San Rafael for their games, Dominican will save significantly on the Penguins' travel budget.
Coach Webster grew up in Baltimore, and was raised to love lacrosse. His father, Mickey, a Hall of Fame attackman at Johns Hopkins University, had a lacrosse stick in Webster's hands by the age of one. Webster went on to play at Notre Dame, but when his career was cut short by a knee injury, he turned his attention to coaching. In addition to serving as Dominican's head lacrosse coach, he also serves as the assistant coach of the San Francisco Dragons (Major League Lacrosse) and spends time mentoring youth in the Ross Valley Lacrosse Club. He looks forward to the day when he will coach the Penguins on Dominican's Field of Dreams. "A new field will help showcase Dominican's athletic programs and further help our University, grow our endowment, and give our program national recognition."
Support the dream by making your gift today.
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