Adirondack Sports Complex game in WPSL soccer league record books
No other WPSL game had ever been held indoors
image: Adir Lynx File
The Lynx and the Queensbury Adirondack Sports Complex made WPSL soccer league history as the June 3 2006 Lynx match against the Maryland Pride was the first soccer game ever played indoors. The dome and complex's covering sheltered the game, and nearly 500 soccer fans from the rain outside that night.
By AL Staff -- AdirondackLynx.com
Tuesday, June 12, 2006
Women’s Premier Soccer League history was made the evening of June 3, 2006, when, for the first time ever, a WPSL match was played indoors. The match that evening was between the Adirondack Lynx and the visiting Maryland Pride, and it went off without a hitch inside the Adirondack Sports Complex Dome in Queensbury, NY. While the rain came down outside, nearly 500 Lynx fans were still enjoying the excitement of a WPSL game and staying warm and dry.
With the Northeastern part of the United States having had 25 out of the last 30 days in rain, the facility was welcomed by both teams and their fans. The Adirondack Sports Complex is one of the largest dome facilities in the country and is just over 425 feet long by 230 feet wide. At its highest point the dome is 68 feet high. Not once during the match did the roof come into play.
In 2007, the Adirondack Lynx women's premier soccer team will be making its home at another Adirondack area sports facility with a dome covering -- the Adirondack Golden Goal Youth Soccer Park. The Golden Goal sports facility is an Olympic themed youth soccer park near Lake George, NY that hosts week long soccer tournaments for boys and girls aged 10-18.” - PJ Motsiff, Lynx General Manager
The owner of the Lynx, Peter Wirfel, wanted to do something real special for soccer fans in the upstate New York area as he showed off the new Adirondack women’s team inaugural home game in the WPSL. With it pouring outside, the “dome roof” was welcomed by every single one of the almost 500 fans that evening. Also given a big welcome that evening by the was Danielle Small, Heather Garriock, Ashley Moore, and Hannah Cerrone and the rest of the Lynx team players.
image: Adir Lynx File
Soccer fans were warm, toasty and more than a bit vocal inside the Adirondack Sports Dome for the Lynx WPSL opener on a rainy night. The Complex Dome is located at 326 Upper Sherman Avenue in Queensbury, NY, and is a great venue for soccer leagues and games.
In their debut, the Adirondack Lynx brought quite a bit of excitement “indoors” as they beat a very established Maryland Pride team 4-1. Ashley Moore had an assist, Hannah Cerrone scored a goal and World Cup player, Heather Garriock scored 2 goals (You can see the inside of the dome on the video clips of the game here). Although this was the only indoor game scheduled this season for the Adirondack Lynx, the team is rethinking its game schedule should the wet weather continue to hit the Northeast.
PJ Motsiff, Lynx General Manager and Coach said, “Using a covered facility allows the our team players to have to step up their game. All of the outside elements that we typically deal with in the Northeast become non-factors in the dome. Grass that is too high, poorly maintained fields, uneven playing surfaces, and weather that is too wet or cold are no longer an issue. These external factors can really have an impact on a game and alter its outcome. But the real highlight of using the Adirondack Sports Dome Complex is for the fans. It’s just a gem. There’s just no way we could have attracted 500 rabid soccer fans to watch a match outside that evening with the rain. I know that for sure.”
In 2007, the Adirondack Lynx women's team will be making its home at another Adirondack area sports facility with a dome covering -- the Adirondack Golden Goal Youth Soccer Park. (www.aggsoccer.com) The Golden Goal facility is an Olympic themed youth soccer park near Lake George, NY that hosts week long soccer tournaments for boys and girls aged 10-18.
Although the Lynx will play most of their 2007 soccer league games outside on a 1,500 seat championship stadium field when the weather is nice, they will also play games inside Golden Goal Dome during bad weather if needed. This is more great news for the Adirondack Lynx fans because next season they can expect every scheduled home game to go off with out a hitch, no matter how crazy the weather. Covered domes are a soccer fan’s paradise in this part of the country.
Related Lynx Articles :
- Game report from the Historic Lynx Dome game June 3
- Pre-game story detailing the ASC soccer dome in Queensbury
- Video clip with Aussie World Cup player Heather Garriock describing her first time playing inside a dome and on a artificial surface
Related Outside Links :
- WPSL Press Release about the historic dome game
- Adirondack Golden Goal Youth Soccer Park, Dome and Facilities
- ASC facility where home opener was held
Adirondack Lynx
12 Northup Drive • Queensbury, NY 12804 • 518-466-0534
