Home to the Panthers, Engelmann Field captures a unique atmosphere unlike any other soccer pitch. Its beauty resides in the fact that it lies unassuming, tucked away silent among a busy campus. Come game day, the hidden field soon comes alive as the surrounding buildings provide the acoustics for the inspirational echoing of the crowd. Home field advantage plays an important role for the Panthers, as the men's team has gone 193-66-18 (.729 winning percentage) and the women's team 104-51-13 (.658) all-time at Engelmann. The 2006 season was more of the same, as the women recorded a ledger of 7-1 and the men a mark of 7-2-1. The university continues to make improvements to the top notch facility. Most recently, night soccer came to Engelmann Field in time for the start of the 2006 season. Behind a fierce fundraising campaign, the Milwaukee men's and women's soccer programs raised the money for lights to be installed on the on-campus soccer facility. The lighting system for Engelmann Field is a state-of-the-art, four-pole system by Musco Lighting Company, a leader in stadium and field lighting, utilizing the latest technology. Home to the UWM women's soccer team since its inception in 1984, Engelmann Field has brought a unique atmosphere to the collegiate soccer scene. It exists among the urban university, tucked beneath a busy campus, unfolding into a stadium-like stage. The campus buildings that enclose the field, including the 80-yard old Engelmann Hall for which the field is named, provide an intimate setting for Panther fans to experience. The site of many great memories in Milwaukee soccer history, Engelmann Field has been renovated over the last few years to reflect a state-of-the-art facility. The natural grass surface was reseeded, the drainage system was upgraded and an underground sprinkler system was added in 2000. Other improvements to the facility include a replacement of the fence surrounding the field, along with the addition of sheltered team benches. A ticket and concession stand was also added prior to the 2001 season.
Along with changes on the outside, the locker rooms have also recently received upgrades. Most notable among the improvements has been the creation of the "Panther Room", a meeting place and film room for players and coaches that features a large-screen television, VCR and DVD players and numerous amenities to keep the team comfortable and focused. Permanent bleachers on the north side of the field, as well as temporary bleachers on the south side, provide seating for over 1,500 fans. Space along the fences and grassy knolls are open for 1,000 more fans to enjoy the action. The largest crowd to ever see a soccer match at Engelmann Field came last season in the first night game ever played on the field. The Milwaukee men overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit to record a 3-2 victory over crosstown rival Marquette in front of 3,256 fans, topping the old mark of 2,250 fans when UWM hosted Evansville in September of 1990. While a number of postseason matches have been played on the surface, 2002 marked a pair of firsts in the history of the field. The championship game of the Horizon League Women's Soccer Tournament was played at Engelmann, with UWM scoring a 4-2 win over Butler. It was the first women's league title game to be played on the Milwaukee campus. Later that fall, the Milwaukee men were awarded their first home NCAA Tournament game since 1980. Another first for the storied facility, 1,864 fans watched UWM claim its first-ever victory in the NCAA Tournament, topping Oakland, 2-1, Nov. 23. Driving Directions From the West: Take I-94 East to 794 East. Take Lakefront/Lincoln Memorial Drive North. Lincoln Memorial Drive becomes Lake Avenue. Take it North to Hartford. Turn left on Hartford and continue west to campus until you reach Engelmann Hall on the corner of Hartford and Cramer. From the North: Take I-43 South to Capitol Drive East. Continue East on Capitol to Maryland. Turn right and travel south on Maryland. Take Maryland to campus to Engelmann Field on the corner of Maryland and Hartford. From the South: Take I-43 North to 794 East. Take Lakefront/Lincoln Memorial Drive North. Lincoln Memorial Drive becomes Lake Avenue. Take it North to Hartford. Turn left on Hartford and continue west to campus until you reach Engelmann Hall on the corner of Hartford and Cramer.
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