Fitchburg field hockey team finds new home
For the entirety of its existence, the Fitchburg High field hockey team has played its home games on natural grass surfaces.
They’ve played in the outfield of the FHS baseball diamond behind the 20-year-old high school on Arn-How Farm Road; before that, they plied their trade at Historic Crocker Field and the large field behind Memorial Middle School.
And even before that, the Red Raiders were known to use Coolidge Park for their home games.
That changes this fall, as the Red and Gray will contest their home matches at the brand spanking new turf fields at Game On in West Fitchburg.
Turf has become the norm for field hockey over the last decade: a look down the list of Central Mass. champions in both Division 1 and Division 2 for a majority of this decade sees title-winning schools that play their matches predominantly on artificial surfaces.
When the ball is struck well on turf, it will simply roll, not stopping until it meets stick.
“The sport of field hockey was meant for turf,” Fitchburg athletic director Craig Antocci said. “The
game is fast and is meant to be played in space. That doesn’t happen on grass. We have had great participation in field hockey, with interest in the program
steadily increasing.
“The program needed a turf home in order to blossom.”
At the moment, the only turf fields in Fitchburg are at Fitchburg State University’s Elliot Field, as well as the new facility off Industrial Road.
Antocci recently toured the facility. “After a few conversations with Mike
Elster, we were in,” Antocci said, referring to the Sutton boys’ soccer coach who co- owns the facility with Steve Marsden.
“I feel like it’s the beginning of a great relationship. The facility is a jewel, and hopefully we can introduce the community to the best- kept secret in Fitchburg.”
Antocci said that at present, only FHS field hockey will move to West Fitchburg. This past spring, he had planned on playing girls’ lacrosse on Crocker Field; boys’ lacrosse is currently in a co- operative agreement with Lunenburg.
Boys’ and girls’ soccer are expected to play on Crocker Field this fall.