Ralph Lundy Field dedicated with ‘100 Seasons of Soccer’ celebration

Erskine College celebrated 60 seasons of men’s soccer and 40 seasons of women’s soccer Saturday, Oct. 25, with the official opening of the Ralph Lundy Soccer Field at the “100 Seasons of Soccer” event.

Beginning at noon with a cookout at Lundy Field, the day’s schedule included Men’s and Women’s Soccer matches, giving soccer alumni and friends a chance to see Erskine’s current students in action.

Erskine Gifts Officer Ralph Patterson welcomed Coach Ralph Lundy, Erskine President Dr. Steve Adamson, Athletic Director Mark Peeler, and former athletic director Bill Lesesne ’61, as well as soccer alumni and former coaches. He offered a prayer for the dedication of the field, including a petition that Lundy Field “be a source of community and joy for Erskine College and that all who come here be reminded of your presence in our lives.” 

Patterson told attendees, “It was an easy decision to name the field in honor of former Erskine coach Ralph Lundy.”

Lundy coached the Flying Fleet from 1976 to 1986, leading the team to seven district titles and three NAIA National Tournament berths. He left Erskine to coach at the College of Charleston, “where he also had an incredible run of success,” Patterson noted. He was inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame this year.

“Coach Lundy created winning programs that Erskine alumni and friends remember with pride,” Patterson said.

“Erskine alumni and friends have donated over $200,000 for construction of the field, and we need to raise at least that much more to make this a first-class facility,” he announced. “We have received gifts totaling $15,000 from soccer alumni so far this weekend and look forward to seeing that number grow.”

Paula Howker Amick ’89, Armando Ebanks ’87, and Grant Gravitt ’84, who made lead gifts for naming opportunities, were applauded at the event. “Ralph Lundy Field would not be possible without the help of these three,” Patterson said.

Three other lead gift donors—Sandra McDonald ’86, Ali Regimand ’78, and Board of Trustees Chair Alan Runyan—were recognized.

Thanks were extended to Matt Beyer ’84, Will Maley ’84, Patrick Marshall ’86, Alex Orr ’85, and Ralph Polson ’80, whose gifts helped to defray the cost of the “100 Seasons of Erskine Soccer” reunion shirts.

In response to a challenge gift by Sammy Nasrollahi ’80—who pledged to donate $1,000 if 10 others made gifts of $1,000 each—Kevin Blalock ’96, Ted Kinghorn ’78, Patrick Marshall ’86, Alex Orr ’85, Ralph Polson ’80, and Ali Regimand ’78, along with Coach Lundy and three anonymous donors, stepped up.

“Everybody enjoyed the event,” Lundy said. “Camaraderie, esprit de corps—it’s why Erskine is wonderful and unique. People become so close when they spend four years at Erskine.”

A barbecue dinner at the home of Matt Cox ’94, featuring a testimonial by Veron Skinner ’86, capped off the “100 Seasons of Soccer” festivities.  “He was one of the greatest athletes ever to come to Erskine,” Lundy said of Skinner. “He was such an amazing athlete, way beyond everybody else.”

Skinner’s high school experience had not prepared him sufficiently for college. Reflecting on Skinner’s story after the “100 Seasons” weekend, Lundy said, “What meant the most to Veron was that at Erskine, everybody loved him as a person and helped him as a student,” and added, “He named me in his talk because I stayed after him.”

Improving his academic performance while remaining a standout athlete, Skinner earned the Jake Todd Award at Erskine, completed a master’s degree at Hunter College in New York City, and is now a preacher. Stressing his strong connection with the graduate to this day, Lundy said, “He was and is ‘my son.’”

“There is not another man on our planet who has done more to grow the game of soccer in the southeast than Coach Ralph Lundy,” Patterson asserted at the dedication of Lundy Field.

Raising the remaining funds to make Lundy Field a first-class facility is a way to “take care of the kids,” the legendary coach says. For Lundy, it is all about the Erskine students who not only dedicate time and effort to soccer, but become part of a college community that remains “something special” to him.

More photos can be seen here; view photos submitted by alumni here.

See soccer photos here and here.

Donate to the Lundy Field project, which will benefit current students as well as hundreds of future students.