Memorial Field
Jerry Azumah Performance Center
The Jerry Azumah Performance Center opened its doors in the summer of 2003 to UNH student-athletes and was renovated in the summer of 2008. A monetary donation by Azumah, a recently retired cornerback of the Chicago Bears of the NFL and the 1999 recipient of the Walter Payton Award (top football player in Div. I-AA), allowed the UNH athletic department to overhaul its existing strength and conditioning center. The renovated Center features 5,000 pounds of Olympic weights, 7,000 pounds of dumbbells, 14 Powerlift platform stations, 12 Hammer strength machines and an additional 15,000 pounds of weights. Other renovations included the offices of the strength and conditioning coordinators.
T he F acilities
Memorial Field, which has been home for the women’s lacrosse team since the program’s inception, was renovated in July 2002. The renovation transformed a grass field adjacent to the Whittemore Center into an AstroTurf facility that features 95,000 square feet of playing surface, full lighting and Bigglestone Plaza. The project cost approximately $1.5 million and was built in conjunction with Bremner Field, which is a 110,000 square-foot AstroPlay facility located on what was formerly known as Upper Field. The UNH women’s lacrosse team made its debut on renovated Memorial Field vs. the University of Massachusetts on March 14, 2003. Memorial Field proved to be a true homefield advantage in the 2004 season when the ‘Cats went 7-1 in the regular season and then won both the semifinal and final games of the America East Championship to earn automatic qualifying status to the NCAAs.
Academic Center
The University of New Hampshire athletic department significantly upgraded its Academic Center in the summer of 2003, and it continues to change handin-hand with the needs of student-athletes. The Academic Center provides a secluded, quiet area in the Field House for women’s lacrosse players to focus on academics. Each of the Academic Center computers has internet access and features wireless access for laptop computers. The Academic Center reflects the University’s commitment to academic excellence. In 2008, 14 UNH women’s lacrosse players were named to the America East Academic Honor Roll, and seven received further distinction on the Commissioner’s Honor Roll. UNH’s Michaela Hardy was selected as the 2008 America East Women’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year and she was joined on the IWLCA All-Academic Team by Sarah Von Bargen. That duo, as well as Ashley Durepo, was named to the America East Women’s Lacrosse All-Academic Team.
Wildcat Lacrosse
NCAA tourney appearances: 1984 '85 '86' 87 '91 2004 '08
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