Newport Central Catholic soccer teams open new stadium with wins

Newport Central Catholic High School celebrated the opening of its new on-campus stadium with two varsity soccer games to begin the 2026 season. NCC's new home is the Robert J. Schneider field at the Ciafardini Family Athletic Complex.

The girls soccer team defeated Mason County 8-0 in its season opener Aug. 10, the first game on the new field.

Don Velten, the first girls soccer coach at the school, presented the game ball and did the opening coin toss.

The boys team followed with a 3-2 win over Simon Kenton Aug. 11. Matty Wagenlander, a 2003 NCC graduate, presented the game ball and did the opening coin toss. His company, Punky’s Pixels, installed the videoboard at the field.

The girls team hosts St. Henry 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15 and Calvary Christian 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24. The boys team is not at home again until Aug. 25 against Conner.

The NewCath football team will play its first regular-season game at the stadium Aug. 21 vs. Lloyd Memorial. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

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What a GREAT night on The Hill! We were pleased to have our first Girls Soccer Coach Mr. Don Velten, present the game ball and flip the coin at the inaugural athletic event on Robert J. Schneider field at the Ciafardini Family Athletic Complex as our Girls took on Mason County. pic.twitter.com/K2mKqt2Iot

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Tonight the Boys Soccer Team opened its season for the first time on The Hill!

Mr. Matty Wagenlander '03 NCC presented the game ball and tossed the coin He now runs Punky’s Pixels, the installer for our incredible videoboard We're thrilled to thank and honor him! pic.twitter.com/HOV8rcWeSL

The athletic complex, five years in the making, was dedicated on April 14, with a mass and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Tony Ciafardini, a 1966 graduate and local businessman, provided the keystone gift for the campaign. The field is named after legendary coach Robert Schneider, who died in 2021. He won 345 games from 1966 to 2009 and won state championships in 1984, 2005 and 2006. He also coached baseball for nine seasons.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Newport Central Catholic soccer teams open new stadium with wins