Skyhawk Field - Stonehill Skyhawks
- Paul Baker
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 20 hours ago
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29
Skyhawk Field
490 Washington St.
Easton, MA 02356
Skyhawk Soccer
On April 5, 2022, tiny Stonehill College, a private Catholic school located in Easton, Massachusetts, with an enrollment of 2,500 undergraduate students, announced it was moving all of its athletic teams to the NCAA Division I level, effective in the fall of 2022. Before 2022, Stonehill was a member of the Northeast-10 Conference in NCAA Division II. Upon its elevation to Division One, Stonehill joined the Northeast Conference.
Stonehill’s athletic teams competed for years as the Chieftains. In 2002, the school decided to change its nickname. After considering several options, Stonehill officially changed its nickname to the Skyhawks in 2005. This name has no connection to a bird or animal but does have a connection to the school’s history.
After the school’s property was purchased by the Congregation of Holy Cross, an airfield on site was leased to the Navy during World War II and to private companies afterwards. The airfield was closed in 1955 as the college grew, but the Navy continued to use the land for training exercises and would employ the Skyhawk aircraft between 1954 and 1995.
Before the construction of W.B. Mason Stadium, Skyhawk Field served as the home to Stonehill football and lacrosse. Today it is the primary home of the Skyhawks men’s and women’s soccer teams. Some bigger games are played at W.B. Mason Stadium. The field served as the site of the 2003 NCAA Division II Lacrosse Championship Game between Stonehill and Longwood, won 9-8 by the Skyhawks.
The first men’s soccer team played at Stonehill in 1962. The men’s team has yet to qualify for an NCAA tournament, either in Division I or II. The women’s soccer program began play in 1979. The women’s team has played in three Division II tournaments (2016, 2018, 2019), winning one game in their three appearances.
Food & Beverage 0
There are no concessions available at Skyhawk Field. Fans are welcome to bring their own snacks or beverages to enjoy during the match. You’ll be sure to see lots of beverages from the nearby Dunkin’ or Cumby’s in the stands. (That’s Dunkin’ Donuts or Cumberland Farms to those of you who are not local)
Atmosphere 2
The game day presentation at Skyhawk Field is a very basic one, as you would expect at such a small facility. The athletic staff works out of temporary quarters set up at the top of the bleachers, and makes sure that visiting fans have everything they need for an enjoyable afternoon. Music plays out of decent speakers pregame and during halftime.
The PA announcer adds a bit of energy and relays game information to the fans in attendance, and if you’re sitting nearby, you can hear the play-by-play crew do their thing. A scoreboard in the west corner of the pitch displays basic game information.
Of course, the fans in the stands do their part to cheer on the Skyhawks and make most of the noise you’ll hear while visiting Stonehill. If you want to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the bleachers, you can bring your own chair and sit along the fence on the far side of the pitch.
Neighborhood 3
Stonehill College’s suburban location and sprawling campus belie its location in a bustling area with many dining and lodging options for visiting fans. State routes 123 and 138 intersect at the southwest corner of campus. Both routes are pretty busy local roads, lined with strip malls filled with the usual national chains alongside a few local eateries in both directions. Stadium Journey recommends checking out Stoneforge Grill or Brach’s Grill and Tap, both right near campus, for your pre- or postgame meal.
While you may not find many attractions in the immediate vicinity of Stonehill, Boston is located just a half hour’s drive to the north. Visiting fans will find no shortage of things to do there. Fans looking for lodging options closer to school should check out the Residence Inn by Marriott just off Route 24.
More information about local accommodations, restaurants, and attractions can be found here.
Fans 2
The crowd at a Stonehill soccer game is what we at Stadium Journey call a “friends and family” crowd. That means that it is not large in size, but virtually everyone in the stands seems to have a connection with the athletes down on the field. As a result, what the crowd may lack in quantity, they make up for in quality. The fans are generally very supportive and boisterous in cheering on the home squad. There’s a decent turnout from the student body, as friends of team members will stop by to support their classmates.
Overall attendance at Skyhawk Field can vary depending on the day of the week, opponent, and time of day the game is being held. Crowds will usually number around 100-200 fans. As mentioned earlier, games that will attract larger crowds will be held at W.B. Mason Stadium. For the 2025 season, six games are scheduled at Skyhawk Field and three at the larger facility.
Access 3
Stonehill College is located in suburban Easton, MA, directly to the west of the city of Brockton and 25 miles south of Boston. The campus is easily accessible, as both Interstates 495 and 93 lead to Route 24, which runs north-south just a mile from Skyhawk Field.
Skyhawk Field is located right near Stonehill’s front entrance on Belmont Street (Route 123). There is no parking on-site, so fans must park at the nearby grass athletic field and walk over to the soccer pitch.
This is a basic facility, with only a small set of bleachers on the southeast side of the pitch. There is plenty of room all around the pitch for fans to stand or set up a chair and take in the action. A pair of port-a-johns on the south corner of the pitch make up the entirety of the facility’s, ummm, facilities. Fans with mobility issues should tread carefully, as there are no paved walkways around Skyhawk Field.
Return on Investment 5
There is no charge to attend a Stonehill soccer match. There is also no charge to park your car. With no concessions on site, you will not have to reach for your wallet even once during your visit to Skyhawk Field.
Extras 1
Near the entrance to Skyhawk Field is a plaque dedicating the field to Hernani “Ernie” Branco, who coached the men’s soccer team from 1984 to 1998. The plaque is mounted on a rock, as Branco is the “rock” on which the Stonehill soccer program is built.
Final Thoughts
At first glance, Skyhawk Field may not seem like it’s a proper Division One facility. But its charm is in its simplicity. Pull your favorite lawn chair up to the edge of the pitch and enjoy an afternoon of quality soccer in a relaxed setting.
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