The field that formerly housed Eastern rugby will be converted to a soccer field for Eastern athletics.

Work on the field, which is located right next to fourth street, started before the academic year ended in May, and associate athletic director Rich Moser said work on the conversion is progressing.

However, as a result of heavy rain in the spring and summer so far, the timetable for the completion of the field is in flux, Moser said.

He said crews have worked on leveling the field and on the in-ground irrigation system.

Previously, the Eastern men’s and women’s soccer teams have played at Lakeside Field, located just next to Coaches Stadium, Eastern’s baseball field.

Lakeside Field has presented problems for the teams in previous seasons, including this past season.

Lakeside Field does not irrigate water very well, which caused the teams to move their home matches to the former rugby field.

Talks of moving the teams’ official playing field to the former rugby field have surfaced since fall 2018, but no action was taken until ground was broken in the spring.

More information will be added to the story as it is available.

Dillan Schorfheide can be reached at 581-2812 or dtschorfheide@eiu.edu.