LIVINGSTON, Ala. – While the first women's soccer season is still just under a year away, that doesn't stop West Alabama Head Coach Graeme Orr from being excited – especially about the surface on which his Tigers will play.

The team – the first in school history – will play on the turf that was installed this past summer at Tiger Stadium.

“It is an honor as a coach to be able to lead a team out to play at home inside a stadium with such history and tradition,” Orr said. “The surface will permit us to train and play even in bad weather and enable us to play attractive, exciting soccer.”

Orr hopes that what should be fast-paced action on the synthetic pitch will generate a level of excitement that will result in UWA being a feared road game for opponents.

“We hope to create an electric atmosphere inside the stadium as the football team has done in the past. I want to make the home of the Tigers an intimidating place for opposing players,” Orr added.

In addition to playing on the brand new surface, the soccer team will also have a completely renovated locker room inside Pruitt Hall for its use.

“Once the locker room is completed, we will rival any school in the nation for women's soccer facilities,” Orr said, adding a word of thanks to Director of Athletics Dr. E.J. Brophy for his dedication in ensuring the program is ready with top-notch facilities from day one.

Of course, the team won't be a team without players, and Orr realizes the benefit that having great facilities creates when attempting to attract great players.

“Once recruits get on campus and witness all of this, they will see we are building something special here at UWA.”