Pucillo Field - Millersville Marauders
- Richard Smith
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86
Pucillo Field 105 Pucillo Drive Millersville, PA 17551
Year Opened: 2014
Capacity: 700
Marauding In PA
Millersville University of Pennsylvania (commonly known as Millersville University or MU) was founded in 1855 as one of Pennsylvania's normal/teaching schools. One of its biggest programs is meteorology. Malik B and Black Thought of The Roots are two of the university's most well-known alumni. The Roots are best known by many people as the house band of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
The soccer field is named in honor of Dr. John A. Pucillo, who served with distinction as coach, athletic director, and administrator at Millersville from 1925 to 1957. The Pucillo Field complex includes a competition soccer stadium and an 80-yard practice football field for use by intercollegiate athletics and campus recreation. In early 2014, Millersville University Student Senate approved $2.5 million for the project from funds remaining from the Student Memorial Center renovations. Groundbreaking took place in April of 2014, and the facility was completed in time for the 2014 fall season.
When the soccer teams took to the newly-built Pucillo Fields in the fall of 2014, it was a return to the site as the programs played on a grass surface at the site until the early 2000s. But for a decade, the soccer teams played at Biemesderfer Stadium.
Millersville participates in varsity sports as part of NCAA Division II. Their sports teams are known as the Marauders. The Marauders compete as members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). In lacrosse, the school was the 1982 AIAW Division III national champion.
Food & Beverage 0
There is a nice concession stand in the gymnasium's lobby, but it was closed on a busy weekend where there were multiple sports events going on in the same area. There are no permanent food options outside at the stadium itself.
Atmosphere 3
The stadium is very nice, but it is a simple setup. As you enter the stadium, you will find two grandstands sitting along the pitch and some hill seating on one end.
Neighborhood 3
Millersville is a nice little town located just to the west of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
There are a few food and drink options in the immediate vicinity. Although it is not the most exciting place, I tend to go to the Sugar Bowl just down the street. They have simple pizza slices and sub sandwiches at a good value. Wayback Burger is another local option.
Some great food options exist in the nearby Lancaster area.
A very nice hotel, the Lancaster Arts Hotel makes a nice place to stay and watch games. The hotel serves as an art gallery and lodging establishment while making use of former factory space.
Fans 3
The fans are about what you expect for a small college venue. The students can make it better at the games they attend.
The PSAC conference offers some great local rivalries with schools such as Bloomsburg, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock, and Shippensburg. Expect to see a decent number of rival fans in attendance.
Access 4
Lancaster and Millersville are easy areas to navigate. Routes 30 and 222 are well-known, large roads that any tourist visitor to the area will be more than familiar with.
The university is located about half an hour from the state capital, Harrisburg. It is also about an hour and a half to Baltimore and the same distance to Philadelphia.
Parking is fairly plentiful around the university and the stadium. Parking is also free, but watch for any regulations during weekday games.
Return on Investment 5
Parking and admission are free.
Extras 2
The nearby gymnasium lobby cases also hold information about the members of the Lancaster County Sports Hall of Fame.
Following extensive renovations to the lobby in 2017, it was renamed the Anttonen Lobby in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Ralph (Doc) and Judith Anttonen.
Final Thoughts
Millersville University plays a good level of soccer, and the opponents of the PSAC do offer some skilled opponents, which makes a game here a good value for the sports fan.
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