VWC to Host Games Away from Home

Five Games to be Played at National Training Facility

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. --- America's most well-know field hockey complex will become a home away from home for the Virginia Wesleyan College Marlins in 2009.

The USA Field Hockey National Training Center will host five of VWC's nine home contests slated in September and October.  The Marlins, awaiting the start of construction of the state-of-the-art Lingo Stadium for lacrosse and field hockey, are making the move to the Training Center through a relationship between the Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation department and VWC Head Coach Joyce Anne Koubaroulis.  Each contest at the Training Center will be followed by free youth clinics.

"We're extremely excited about this amazing opportunity," said Koubaroulis, who begins her third season at VWC in the fall.  "It is not often that a complementary relationship like the one we have created with the Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation is developed.  I am thrilled that this parternship is presenting us with another opportunity to give back to the youth in the community where I too was once a 9-year-old who fell in love with the game in Virginia Beach."

The USA Field Hockey Training Center, which opened in 2001, features two artificial turf fields, lighting, offices and locker rooms, parking, and an equipment room.  The facility was established as the national headquarters for the U.S. Women' s  national team and hosts major events such as the National Futures Championship, the National Club Championship, and international competition as well.

Practicing and competing at the Training Center will enable Virginia Wesleyan to keep pace with other members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, and non-conference foes, who currently compete on artificial turf surfaces.  The current Marlin field hockey team will begin practicing at the NTC in mid-March.

"Our program will benefit tremendously by training at arguably the best astro turf facility in the country," said Koubaroulis.  "This surface will promote a faster, more skill-centered style of hockey for our team."

VWC games scheduled for the facility are as follows:
            Sept. 1 vs. Johns Hopkins University, 5 p.m.
            Sept. 11 vs. Catholic University, 7 p.m.
            Oct. 10 vs. the University of Mary Washington, 1 p.m.
            Oct. 21 vs. Randolph-Macon College, 1 p.m.
            Oct. 24 vs. Washington & Lee University, 2 p.m.

In addition to the free hour-long youth clinics that follow each of those games, the VWC field hockey program will sponsor a free clinic for its Marlin Balls Girls Club in August.  All U12/U14 youth are invited to be ball girls at all home games on the VWC campus and at the NTC for the fall 2009 season.

Virginia Wesleyan will also host a clinic/tournament on Saturday, March 21, at the NTC.  The event is open to U12, U14, U16, U19 clubs, high school and middle school teams, and individuals.  Teams or individuals interested in participating in the event can register through the Virginia Wesleyan website on the field hockey page in athletics.

This release is courtesy of the Virginia Wesleyan College sports information department.