Newly-christened Laura Moynihan Field at Engelmann Stadium has been the home of Milwaukee Women's Soccer since its inception. It holds the reputation as being one of the top soccer atmospheres in the region and it continues to undergo changes to improve the facility.

Prior to the 2010 season, a new, synthetic playing surface was laid down at Engelmann Stadium. Behind a three-year fundraising effort, the facility received a FIFA 2-Star rated field and was renamed in honor of the former women's soccer coach and pioneer for girls' soccer in the state of Wisconsin.

The new playing surface from Poly-Tan was the first of its kind in North America. The company had installed 46 current FIFA 2-star rated fields in the world. FIFA final round competitions, Champions League matches and UEFA Cup matches can only be played on 2-Star fields. At the time of its installation, there were just five such fields in the CONCACAF region (North and Central America and the Caribbean).

Night soccer came to campus in time for the 2006 season. It was another fierce fundraising campaign that enabled the Milwaukee men's and women's soccer programs to raise the money for lights to be installed on the campus soccer facility.

The lighting system for Engelmann Stadium is a state-of-the-art, four-pole system by Musco Lighting Company, a leader in stadium and field lighting, utilizing the latest technology.

With the ongoing improvements to the facility, Engelmann Stadium remains a unique atmosphere on the collegiate soccer scene. It exists among the urban University, tucked beneath a busy campus, unfolding into a stadium-like stage. The campus buildings that enclose the field, including the 80-year-old Engelmann Hall for which the stadium is named, provide an intimate setting for Panther fans to experience.

Engelmann Stadium has provided a distinct home field advantage for the Panthers, who have almost 70 percent of their games at the campus site. In fact, Milwaukee recently posted a 24-game home unbeaten streak and is 44-4-6 at home over the last six seasons.

Along with the changes on the outside, the locker rooms have also recently seen some upgrades. Most notable among the improvements has been the creation of the "Panther Room," a meeting place and film room for players and coaches that features a large-screen television, VCR and DVD players and numerous amenities to keep the team comfortable and focused.

Permanent bleachers on the north side of the field, as well as temporary bleachers on the south side, provide seating for more than 1,500 fans. Space along the fences and grassy knolls are open for 500 more fans to enjoy the action.

The largest crowd to ever see a soccer match at Engelmann Stadium came in 2006 in the first night game ever played at the field. The Milwaukee men overcame a 2-0 deficit to score a 3-2 win over crosstown rival Marquette in front of 3,256 fans.

The women's attendance record came in 2009 when 1,307 people saw the Panthers take on crosstown rival Marquette. In fact, the 2009 season saw school attendance records set for a game, season and per-game average.

A number of post-season matches have been played on the surface, including Horizon League Championships in 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2009. The 2009 tournament saw the Panthers claim the league title in front of their home crowd for the second time (2002).

In 2002, the Panther men were awarded their first home NCAA Tournament game since 1980. A first for the storied facility, 1,864 fans watched UWM win the first NCAA Tourney game in team history, topping Oakland 2-1.

Driving Directions

From the West: Take I-94 East to 794 East. Take Lakefront/Lincoln Memorial Drive North. Lincoln Memorial Drive becomes Lake Drive. Take it North to Hartford. Turn left on Hartford and continue west to campus until you reach Engelmann Hall on the corner of Hartford and Cramer.

From the North: Take I-43 South to Capitol Drive East. Continue East on Capitol to Maryland. Turn right and travel south on Maryland. Take Maryland to campus to Engelmann Field on the corner of Maryland and Hartford.

From the South: Take I-43 North to 794 East. Take Lakefront/Lincoln Memorial Drive North. Lincoln Memorial Drive becomes Lake Avenue. Take it North to Hartford. Turn left on Hartford and continue west to campus until you reach Engelmann Hall on the corner of Hartford and Cramer.