Sweet Briar College Athletic Complex

Sweet Briar College’s decision to upgrade its athletic facility—given that over 30 percent of its students participate in athletics—significantly enhances its ability to attract student-athletes across all sports. The new athletic facilities use the latest technology and athletic safety standards to create an all-inclusive facility that is the premier in field hockey, soccer, and lacrosse. The project installed a new water-based field for field hockey and lacrosse, a natural grass field for women’s soccer, new scoreboards, field lighting systems, and improved accessibility for athletes and spectators.

Thayer Field, named in honor of Mildred ‘Bee’ Newman Thayer ’61, is the centerpiece of the college’s athletic facility improvements. Home to Vixens’ field hockey and lacrosse programs, Sweet Briar College’s water-based turf field is only the second of its kind within the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Unlike traditional or other artificial turf options, this field’s innovative design incorporates a thin water layer during play, offering safer and smoother gameplay. It reduces the risk of injuries, enhances ball control, and allows greater freedom of movement while being gentler on players’ joints. The field is made even more remarkable by its forward-thinking stormwater reclamation system that efficiently collects runoff through underdrains.

Thayer Field is only one of three fields in the Commonwealth of Virginia to receive the prestigious FIH certification from the International Hockey Foundation. This cutting-edge athletic complex reflects Sweet Briar College’s unwavering support and enthusiasm for athletics while strategically bolstering the institution’s competitive edge.