Stay plugged into Penn with this daily newsletter rounding up all of the top headlines from the DP, 34th Street, and Under the Button. Free.

34th Street Magazine's "Toast" to dear old Penn is a Sunday morning newsletter with the latest on Penn's campus culture and arts scene. Free.

"Penn, Unbuttoned" is Penn's only intentionally satirical newsletter, giving you your weekly dose of comedy from Under the Button. Free.

The week's top stories from the DP and beyond, meticulously curated for parents and alumni, and delivered into your inbox every Sunday morning. $

Quaker Nation is the Daily Pennsylvanian’s weekly sports newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on all things Penn sports. Get it in your inbox every Tuesday. Free.

Recruiter’s Row is the Daily Pennsylvanian’s biweekly recruitment newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on all things employment related. Get it in your inbox every other Wednesday. Free.

Subscribe to get the week's top stories from The DP and beyond, meticulously curated for parents and alumni, delivered directly to your inbox.

The Daily Pennsylvanian is a student-run nonprofit.

Please support us by disabling your ad blocker on our site.

Now-sophomore forward Charlie Gaffney during the game against Cornell at Rhodes Field on Oct. 2, 2021.

Not all soccer games are created equal — that is, in terms of what makes up the playing field. 

The differences between artificial and natural turf create quite the contrast in gameplay, and 2022 home Penn men's and women's soccer games have been affected by the variance between the two. With Rhodes Field — Penn's usual stomping grounds, which contain natural grass — out of commission for the next 23 months, both Quaker teams have transitioned to Penn Park, whose artificial turf is bound to create a significantly faster-paced game setting.

“The difference between surfaces matters a ton in college soccer,” Pat Squeo, assistant director of facilities at Penn, said. “Although the hops are always clean on turf, it is a much different game. Our coaches and teams especially prefer a natural grass surface.”

Players also generally prefer natural grass due to the potential injury severity of turf as well as the ability to make quick cuts and directional changes without getting stuck on the surface. However, passing and shooting ability are affected when playing on natural grass fields.  RELATED: A Philadelphia weekend for Penn men's soccer proves early-season ambition Penn Athletics weekend recap: Soccer and cross country secure convincing victories

A Philadelphia weekend for Penn men's soccer proves early-season ambition

Penn Athletics weekend recap: Soccer and cross country secure convincing victories

The types of soccer fields vary within the Ivy League, with each of the other seven members varying in the makeup of their respective pitches. Soccer games at Princeton, Cornell, and Dartmouth are all played on natural grass, while those at Columbia, Yale, Brown, and Harvard are all played on artificial turf, making the speed of the game significantly less at the former three schools. 

Despite the numerous advantages that natural soccer fields have, they are nevertheless prone to challenges related to their overall maintenance. Natural grass fields are much more susceptible to weather damage than artificial ones, which can often lead to poor surface conditions and match cancellations. 

The amount of playing time is reduced as well. Rhodes Field, for example, has Bermuda grass, which looks and plays well, but has a very strict schedule for maintenance. The grass is managed by Penn’s internal grounds staff, with help and applications done by Hummer Turfgrass Systems. Penn also has Boekholder and Associates as a consultant who provides the University with field work plans related to seeding, topdressing, mow height, and applications. 

With the Penn men's and women's soccer seasons heating up, the challenges and benefits of playing on an artificial turf will soon become evident as the action unfolds. PennConnects Most Read More Like This

Have top stories from The Daily Pennsylvanian delivered to your inbox every day, Monday through Friday, when Penn classes are in session.