W.B. Mason Stadium - Stonehill Skyhawks Lacrosse
- Paul Baker
- Mar 23
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 24
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.29
W.B. Mason Stadium
320 Washington St.
North Easton, MA 02356
Year Opened: 2005
Capacity: 2,400
Skyhawx Lax
On April 5, 2022, tiny Stonehill College, a private Catholic school located in Easton, Massachusetts with an enrollment of just under 2,600 undergraduate students, announced it was moving all of its athletic teams to the NCAA Division One level starting in the fall of 2022. Prior to this change, Stonehill was a member of the Northeast-10 Conference in NCAA Division Two. Upon joining Division One, Stonehill joined the Northeast Conference.
Stonehill’s athletic teams were known for much of the school’s history as the Chieftains. In 2005 the school officially changed its nickname to the Skyhawks. This name has no connection to a bird 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 1954–1995.
W.B Mason, a business supply company headquartered in neighboring Brockton, purchased the naming rights for the school’s new multi-use stadium in 2005. The company, led by CEO and Stonehill alumnus Leo Meehan, pitched in $1.5 million of the $4 million construction cost of the facility. The playing field is dedicated in honor of Tim “Cogs” Coughlin, a class of 1980 alumnus and member of the Stonehill football team, who lost his life in the attacks on the World Trade Center. In addition to serving as home to the Skyhawks lacrosse team, W.B. Mason Stadium also serves as home to Stonehill’s field hockey, football and track and field teams.
Lacrosse was first played as a varsity sport at Stonehill in 1999. While a member of Division Two, the Skyhawks qualified for nine NCAA tournaments, winning national titles in 2003 and 2005. Since elevating the program to Division One for the 2023 season, the team has gone 25-26 in their first three seasons.
Food & Beverage 0
There are no concessions sold at W.B. Mason Stadium for lacrosse games. Fans are able to bring their own snacks in to enjoy while watching the game. Hot beverages from the nearby Dunkin’ are popular choices on chilly Massachusetts winter and spring afternoons.
Atmosphere 2
There are a lot of sports fans out there who have never experienced a lacrosse game. For those of you who have yet to see a game, you’re missing out. An afternoon at a lacrosse game is a lot of fun, and the Stonehill staff use the resources at W.B. Mason Stadium to put on an entertaining show. There’s a scoreboard in the north end zone which displays basic game information, and a PA announcer who adds a bit of energy to the proceedings while doing his thing. Music plays over a good sound system during stoppages, but that’s not where most of the noise comes from.
As a rule, lacrosse fans are boisterous in their support of the teams down on the field. The crowds at a Skyhawks game can be described as a “friends and family” type of crowd, but what they lack in quantity they make up for in quality. With the compact footprint of the Northeast Conference, you’re likely to see a good turnout from visiting fans as well.
Neighborhood 3
Stonehill College’s 375-acre, treelined, suburban campus keeps it hidden away from the hustle and bustle happening on the busy roads just beyond the campus borders. Stonehill is located on the Brockton/Easton town line, with State Routes 123 and 138 intersecting at the southwest corner of campus. Both roads are pretty busy commercial routes, lined with businesses, strip malls and dining options for visiting fans. Stadium Journey recommends checking out Stoneforge Grill or Brach’s Grill and Tap 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 close to campus should check out the Residence Inn by Marriott located just off Route 24.
More information about local accommodations, restaurants and attractions can be found here.
Fans 2
The majority of fans in the stands have a personal connection to the players on the field and are enthusiastic in their support. A Skyhawks crowd can most accurately be described as a “friends and family” type of crowd.
Attendance for Skyhawk lacrosse ranges from around 100-250 fans per game. While a crowd of this size might seem to get swallowed up in a facility the size of W.B. Mason Stadium, that's hardly the case. As mentioned before, what a lacrosse crowd lacks in quantity, they make up for in quality. Even a small lacrosse crowd makes themselves heard. As you would expect in this part of the country, crowds grow as the weather warms.
Access 4
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 W.B. Mason Stadium. The stadium is located on the western edge of campus, adjacent to some of Stonehill’s other athletic facilities, including Lou Gorman Field, Merkert Gymnasium and Skyhawk Field.
Fans will find ample parking in the lot in front of the McPhaidin Library located a short walk from the stadium, as well as several other parking lots scattered around campus. All of the lots are just a short walk to the stadium. The entrance to W.B. Mason Stadium is located on the southeast corner of the facility, with the grandstand on the opposite west side of the stadium.
Seating consists of a single grandstand that runs the length of the field. The center sections contain individual molded plastic seats, with the rest of the seating consisting of metal bleachers without backs. This new grandstand is fully ADA compliant and easily accessible for all fans. Fans looking for an alternate viewpoint can take advantage of the standing room along the southern edge of the field.
Unfortunately, the presence of a track surrounding the field pushes the seats a bit further from the action. This is a common feature of the multi-purpose fields that are found at smaller schools. Rest rooms are located in the Sally Blair Ames Athletic Complex, with additional port-a-johns are available behind the grandstand.
Return on Investment 5
There is no charge for admission or parking at a Stonehill lacrosse game. With no concessions on site, you can attend a game here without spending a cent.
Extras 0
There’s not a lot going on at a Stonehill lacrosse game that can be considered extra. That’s not a knock on the experience by any means.
Final Thoughts
Stonehill is one of several small northeastern schools that decided to take the leap to Division One despite the changing landscape of college sports. W.B Mason Stadium may not be an overly impressive facility, and women’s lacrosse certainly doesn’t get the attention that other spring sports get, but a Skyhawk lax game is an affordable, entertaining way to spend a nice spring afternoon.
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