Soccer lights it up

Head women's soccer coach, Neil Piper, has brought in eleven new players to his squad ahead of a very exciting 2009 season. It is another addition, however, which will give players, coaches and spectators a totally new experience with Texas A&M University-Commerce soccer.

Four new floodlights have been added to the soccer field for this season, and the first night games in the history of the program will be played starting Sept. 1 against Dallas Baptist University at 7:30 p.m.

"I was told in the spring that it might be a possibility, and then in April I was told to try and reschedule some night games," Piper said. "We were able to get five night games on short notice." The staff is confident that night games will provide for a better atmosphere for both players and fans to enjoy. Kick-off times will now occur later in the evening when most classes are done and many people are finished working. Piper is hopeful this will result in more people packing the stands.

"I hope that we get more people here," Piper said. "It'll be easier for referees to get here, easier for parents to get here and it'll be easier for faculty to get here. And, of course, kids who are in school until four o'clock, it'll be easier for them to get here. So, you hope you'll get a couple of hundred more out, but at least we know we're giving them the opportunity to come."

Starting later will also provide relief from the late afternoon Texas heat, and because of the team's style of play, he also sees night games as an added benefit.

"Well, because we're a high attack, high-pressure team, and don't sub much, obviously it'll be a little bit of an advantage," he said. "But, we're used to playing in the heat, and some of the teams aren't. We do gain an advantage; we also lose some of it. We have some of the important games in the afternoons, so we should be ok."

Junior Chelsey Haight sees night games as an exciting new feature to the soccer season. The winger, who finished last season second in the team scoring charts with 10 goals, is looking forward to the first games under lights played by the A&M-Commerce soccer team.

"I love playing under the lights because there's no heat, it pumps me up more, it's more exciting, and we've never had lights here in Commerce," Haight said. "It'll be different and fun. Maybe it'll lead to more people coming out to the stands and more people to cheer us on. When it's daytime, it's four, everybody's just now getting off of work, so we'll have more people hopefully at night."

The Lions' first choice goalkeeper, Taylor Jordan, is hopeful this, her senior year, will be improved with night games.

With 102 saves and 15 goals against in 22 appearances, Jordan is also excited about the new addition.

"I've played night games, and I've had amazing games," Jordan said. "I like having all day to focus instead of waking up and just having a few hours, like with our eleven and noon games. I think that the lights will really get us focused, and it kind of just brings you back to high school a little bit. I really like it, I think we'll get more fans and, overall, just have a better outcome."