Yurcak Field is a 5,000 seat
soccer-specific stadium
A soccer-specific stadium, mainly in the United States and Canada, is a sports stadium either purpose-built or fundamentally redesigned for soccer and whose primary function is to host soccer matches, as opposed to a multi-purpose stadium whic ...
on the main campus of
Rutgers University–New Brunswick in
Piscataway Township,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
. Fully acknowledged as "The Soccer Stadium at Yurcak Field", it is named in honor of Ronald N. Yurcak, a 1965 All-American Rutgers Lacrosse player.
The stadium opened on April 16, 1994 and is currently used by the
Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's and women's soccer teams.
History
The stadium is the official home of the
Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's and women's soccer teams.
It was the home of
Gotham FC
Gotham Football Club is an American professional Association football, soccer team based in the New York metropolitan area that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Founded in 2006 as Jersey Sky Blue, the team was known as Sk ...
of the
National Women's Soccer League
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a women's professional Association football, soccer league and the highest level of the United States soccer league system#Women's leagues, United States soccer league system (alongside the USL Supe ...
until 2019 and the Rutgers
men's and women's lacrosse teams from 1994 until 2013 when the Scarlet Knights' lacrosse teams moved to nearby
SHI Stadium
SHI Stadium is the football stadium at Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers Scarlet Knights football, Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's lacrosse, and women's lacrosse use the venue for home games. It is located on the Busch Campu ...
.
In 1999, Yurcak Field hosted a third round match of the
1999 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup between the
Staten Island Vipers of the
A-League and the MetroStars, now the
New York Red Bulls
The New York Red Bulls are an American professional association football, soccer club based in the New York metropolitan area. The Red Bulls compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conferenc ...
, of
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional Association football, soccer league in North America and the highest level of the United States soccer league system. It comprises 30 teams, with 27 in the United States and 3 in Canada, and is sanc ...
. In 2003, the stadium hosted two matches of the
2003 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. A quarter-final match between the
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution are an American professional association football, soccer club based in the Greater Boston area. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference (MLS), Eastern Conference. It is on ...
and the MetroStars and a semi-final match between
D.C. United and the MetroStars with the MetroStars winning both matches.
The facility has hosted the Division II & III
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship games in 1998, 2001, and 2002. It was also the home the
New Jersey Pride of
Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse (MLL) was a men's field lacrosse league in the United States. The league's inaugural season was in 2001 Major League Lacrosse season, 2001. Teams played anywhere from ten to 16 games in a summertime regular season. This w ...
from 2006 through 2008.
In June 2015, it was announced that Yurcak Field would receive enhanced locker rooms, a new training room and new general office space in the coming years as part of a campus wide program to upgrade Rutgers athletic facilities. On April 13, 2019, a ground breaking was held for the Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center. In January 2021, the Rodkin Center opened across Fitch Road from Yurcak Field providing new dedicated locker rooms and lounges, strength and conditioning areas, sports medicine facilities and office space for the men's and women's soccer teams and lacrosse teams. Two new practice soccer fields were also built as part of the Rodkin Center.
In March 2019, Yurcak Field underwent a surface renovation, as the pitch was replaced with Kentucky Bluegrass, cut at 7/8 inch and placed on a sand base surface. The grass was provided by Tuckahoe Turf Farm in New Jersey.
Rutgers hosted the
2019 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament with the Semifinals and Final being played at Yurcak Field on November 8 & 10, 2019.
Rutgers hosted the
2021 Big Ten Women's Soccer Tournament with the Semifinals and Final being played at Yurcak Field on November 4 & 7, 2021. The championship game between Rutgers and
Michigan
Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...
set a new venue record with a total of 5,103.
Rutgers hosted the
2022 Big Ten men's soccer tournament with the Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Final being played at Yurcak Field on November 4, 9, & 13, 2022. Rutgers won the Big Ten Tournament Championship, its first, by defeating
Indiana
Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...
3–1 in front of 4,203 fans.
References
External links
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Rutgers Scarlet Knights soccer
Gotham FC
Women's Professional Soccer stadiums
Former National Women's Soccer League stadiums
Soccer venues in New Jersey
College soccer venues in the United States
Lacrosse venues in the United States
College lacrosse venues in the United States
Former Major League Lacrosse venues
Sports venues in the New York metropolitan area
Multi-purpose stadiums in the United States
Tourist attractions in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Buildings and structures in Piscataway, New Jersey
1994 establishments in New Jersey
Sports venues completed in 1994
Rutgers Scarlet Knights lacrosse
Rutgers Scarlet Knights sports venues