Thanks to the contributions of Vince Naimoli and family, the University of Tampa Spartans Lacrosse team now has an exclusive place to call home.
On Friday, April 5, the Spartans debuted in their snazzy new stadium and managed to snag a victory over rival Rollins College, tallying a final score of 10-6. The victory was huge for the Spartans, who have now locked up a top seed in the Deep South Conference Tournament, by winning the conference for the second year in a row under Coach Rory Whipple.
Perhaps the bigger story of the night, though, was the opening of the brand new complex. In a festive ceremony, a handful of UT’s top donors and President Ronald Vaughn, were on hand to witness the commemorative opening. The grandstand seats about 2,000 people and the field is equipped with a state of the art scoreboard that can shoot in-game video with its high definition cameras, making the experience that much more versatile for fans. The completion of the field adds an extra layer of beauty to the university, expanding the campus westward. Additionally, it allows Pepin Field to be used for other activities aside from lacrosse. Athletic Director Larry Marfise emphasized that the notion that the field will affect the entire school, not just the athletic teams. “The new field means quite a bit to The University of Tampa,” said Marfise. “Not just the Athletic Department, but for all students. It is, in essence, a commitment to the well-being of all of our students. It gives us a quality facility that will hold up in all weather for students to use for intramurals, recreation and of course athletic team practices and games.”
Players on the team vented their excitement about the opening of the field and were excited to commemorate their new stomping grounds. According to Freshman Andrew Failla, a goalkeeper on the team, the atmosphere was “pretty crazy.” Failla added that the crowd brought extra energy that fueled them to a victory. “There were definitely a lot of fans; it was a really good feeling,” said Failla.
Failla’s teammate, starting defenseman Marty Heyn, agreed with Failla’s sentiments. Heyn described the feeling of walking on to the field as “purely awesome” and was “glad to see so many fans come out to show their support.” Marfise was intrigued by the atmosphere generated at the stadium as well.
“The atmosphere at the first home game was great, with lots of student interaction, promotions and fun,” said Marfise. “The crowd was loud and excited. The band played exceptionally well and helped to create a true collegiate environment.”
There’s no doubt that the opening of the stadium brings an incredible amount of positive attention to the school. UT has now expanded its campus exponentially and prospective student-athletes will appreciate the school’s recent efforts to improve athletic standards. Combined with the rededication of the Bob Martinez Athletics Center, the school now boasts one of the premier athletic facilities in the region.