WEST ORANGE, NJ – The Seton Hall Prep football and soccer teams this fall will have a home field.
For football, it will be the first time since October 22, 2011, and for soccer, it will be the first time since October 26, 2015 that they will have games at a home field.
The new field has been named the Brendan P. Tevlin Memorial Field located at the Edward D. and Helen M. Athletic Complex, located on Prospect Avenue.
The football team will open the season at home Sept. 9 against Don Bosco Prep at 2 p.m. The soccer team will have its home opener Sept. 11 against West Essex at 4 p.m. in its third game of the season, after visiting Newark East Side in the season opener Sept. 6 at 4 p.m. and visiting Summit on Sept. 9 at 11 a.m.
Msgr. Michael E. Kelly, the President of Seton Hall Prep, was asked about the new facility and said, “I am thrilled to have our new synthetic turf field and stadium. The planning and waiting for it took a long time. I am also thrilled for the student-athletes and their families. It is a place our alumni can come and feel at home at our new facility.”
Athletic Director Larry Baggitt said, “I believe that we have the finest facility in New Jersey and probably in the tri-state area. We look forward to showcase the facility this fall after a successful spring season, opening with the lacrosse team on the Tevlin field. To bring back a ‘home field’ for our student-athletes and our alumni is a great feeling. I am very proud of the direction that the football program is heading and feel very confident in (head football) coach (Vito) Campanile and his staff.”
Campanile commented about the new facility. “It is great to have a top-shelf venue. It was a long time in the making. This school has a lot of pride and tradition in its football program and we hope to keep it going. This is a state-of -the-art facility that can match any in the Northeast.”
Head soccer coach Marty Berman said, “Being able to prectice and play on a turf field this beautiful is great and a dream come true. The stadium, locker room, and training room makes this a real, first-class facility. I think this is among the best facilities in the county and the state.”
The recent developments at the Kelly Athletic Complex comprise the second phase of the original plan begun prior to 2000. The first phase included a grass “stadium field” and 400-meter track, and a practice field, and was opened in the fall 2001.
This second phase added five tennis courts, two baseball fields, a clubhouse/locker facility, a concession stand, bleachers (seating 1,500), parking, a multi-sport practice area, and the turfed football/lacrosse/soccer field and track. Construction on the second phase began in November 2014.
Opening of the baseball field was April 3, 2016, with the late Fr. Stephen Kilcarr throwing out the first pitch. The field was later named Porcello Field, dedicated June 5, 2017, in honor of SHP graduate and current Boston Red Sox pitcher Rich Porcello, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.
The development of the complex was made possible through the generosity of hundreds of alumni, parents and Prep community members as part of the school’s recent “Generations” capital campaign, which also included funding for the John J. Murphy ’52 Science Center and for the school’s endowment. The specific funding for the refurbishing and turfing of the “stadium field” was furthered by the support and generosity of the Tevlin and McNulty families and friends following the death of Prep alumnus Brendan Tevlin in June 2014. The “Brendan P. Tevlin Memorial Field” was opened at the start of the spring athletic season, and dedicated last May 30.
Rich Morris contributed to this article.
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