Thanks to the Opening Doors Campaign, St. Thomas is set to drop an estimated $2 million on new turf for the South Campus fields.

The project will begin in May after the softball team finishes its current season and is scheduled to end Aug. 1 in time for pre-season soccer practices.

Freshman Zoe Dutchik, who plays on the women’s soccer team, is pleased to finally get turf.

“We’ve been asking for a new turf field for a long time,” Dutchik said.

The turf will benefit the team and how it plays the game, she said.

“It’s going to be a lot faster, and I think that will benefit our team because we have a lot of speed,” Dutchik said. “It will also force us to improve our touch because turf is so fast that you have to have very precise touches.”

Amongst MIAC softball teams, Augsburg is the only other school with an artificial turf. Junior Mary Rentz, a St. Thomas softball player, said the new turf may be advantageous for the Tommies during home games.

“I think it could be an advantage because the ball will hop a lot faster,” Rentz said. “But we still have to go (to other MIAC schools) and play in dirt as well, so I think it will balance out.”

Rentz thinks replacing the field with new turf will allow players to start practicing outside sooner.

“The water will drain a lot faster, so we’ll probably get to go outside a month earlier,” Rentz said.

Although the surfacing will change, the layout of the field will be the same as it has been. The project will also include a new set of bleachers for fans. However, no lights will be installed on the field.

Athletic Director Steve Fritz said the turf will make injuries less frequent and help with the upkeep of the field.

“Most studies show it’s better for injuries and there’s still maintence, but it’s not the same kind of maintenance. This (change) will allow for good surfaces, more flexibility,” Fritz said.

Freshman Connor Nelson, who plays on the men’s soccer team, doesn’t know how much the new turf will affect injuries.

“I know people who have gotten injured from playing on turf and from playing on grass,” Nelson said.