On Friday night, September 5, 2014, Colonia High School’s Girls’ Soccer Team kicked off its fall sports season with a tie against North Brunswick. But asides from the exciting, well-played game, last Friday night was also the opening of the most significant advancement in the history of Colonia High School’s athletic facilities: CHS’s new, blue turf soccer/football field.

With many years of waiting, Colonia’s new sports complex is finally becoming a reality. Colonia not only received the new turf soccer/football field, but also will be receiving a turf baseball field, a refurbished gymnasium with new bleachers, and air conditioning for the auditorium.

Colonia fans were ecstatic in reaction to the new field, having watched its construction and anticipated its completion for months. When greeted at the opening ceremony, Woodbridge Mayor, John E. McCormac proclaimed, “I wouldn’t miss this for the world!” After a televised interview with the mayor, town councilwoman and Colonia Corner editor Debbie Meehan, girls’ soccer coach Stephen Carew and others, the field was officially opened and the soccer game began.

During the class meetings on the first day of school, Mr. Pace, CHS’s Principal, explained that there are only two blue turf fields in the United States and Colonia is one of those two. But will the turf improve or hinder the athletic performance of the Colonia teams?

After playing the freshman football game on Wednesday, September 10th, against Bishop Ahr, Matthew Britt commented, “The turf is a lot easier to play on because you don’t have to worry about mud or slipping. Not to mention it looks nice.”

Freshman soccer player, Tyler Wolff added, “the new turf isn’t going to effect how you play. Practice and teamwork does.”

The Colonia varsity football team will play its first home game on the new turf on Friday, September 19th at 7pm against cross-town-rivals JFK High School. Please come and show your support for the team while checking out the new turf field under the lights.