
The quality of our programs and our athletes call for the best facilities—two on-campus turf fields.
An Undeniable Win: Student Experience
Athletics are ingrained in every Agnes Irwin education. Here, Owls come to understand more deeply—and live out—our core values. They lead with character and strive for excellence, putting in long hours of practice to bring their “A game”. Teams foster optimal ways to foster community, trust, and respect. And what facet of school life better embodies wellbeing?
If you agree, then Agnes Irwin athletics merit your support. They complete the student experience and propel into the world graduates who know grit firsthand, apply teamwork, and have agency—because on the field they found and used their voices.
Surface Matters
These AIS sports require turf as a training and competition venue: field hockey, lacrosse, and soccer. Our high-achieving athletes at every level—Upper and Middle School, Varsity and JV—deserve facilities commensurate with their abundant talents and commitment.
More than 100 Owls have been recruited to play field hockey, lacrosse, and soccer for Division I, II, and III programs since 2018. Still, they find themselves competing for use of Phelps—the only turf field on campus. The alternative is a time-consuming commute to practice at Radnor Memorial field—a distinct disadvantage compared with peers at other schools.
The Ultimate Win: More Championships
Seeing our Owls in action is believing. Attend any one of their games—for example, the triple OT thriller the lacrosse team gutted out last spring at EA, ending in a 2–1 in-state victory—and you witness iron-fire determination, passion that demands our support on the sidelines and in this campaign. That team went on to share the Inter-Ac Championship.
To hoist more banners, we must field the best teams, a process that begins with recruiting the top student-athletes considering Agnes Irwin. Their visits place a premium on our facilities. You enable us to put our best foot forward.

“When our students go on to play in college, they’re playing on turf. Just like academics and life, we want to, and need to, prepare them for the next level.”
—Courtney Lubbe, Co-Director of Athletics

A Cut Above
In answering the need to re-turf Phelps Field and convert Carter to turf, we researched all options to ensure we are in the vanguard among peer schools in choosing the best available surfaces.
Phelps will use RootZone 3D Series Astroturf, a state-of-the-art playing surface with a groundbreaking composite infill, fiber type, and density all specifically formulated for soccer and lacrosse—backed by independent research.
Carter will use Paris GT Zero turf, a revolutionary, carbon zero field hockey product created for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Featuring friction-reducing technology, the surface will play faster and require less water and maintenance. Agnes Irwin stands apart as the only independent school in the state with this advantage.
Learn More
Join Us.
Our campaign ushers in a new era for girls who play field hockey, lacrosse, and soccer. We will invest in the future by re-turfing Phelps for soccer and lacrosse and converting Carter into a best-in-class field hockey turf facility, also hosting lacrosse practices. And through smart planning, we will reach for the highest level by using the best surfaces for both fields and putting Agnes Irwin ahead of all peer schools.
When you choose to support this campaign, you’re doing more than helping reach a goal. You are taking an assist on the next goals the Owls score—and the life goals they will soon pursue. We invite you to put on your cleats and take up the challenge of this crucial match.
Our Generous Donors
We are grateful to a growing number of Agnes Irwin community members for choosing to invest in our athletic facilities and our girls.
But the game isn’t over yet. It’s crucial to raise the resources needed to stay on track for opening the new turf fields for the fall 2025 season.
Please join these philanthropic leaders to ensure our teams start next year with a distinctive home field advantage. Contact Allison Hough '01, Director of Development, at 610.801.1262 or ahough@agnesirwin.org. THANK YOU!
- Chad & Alyssa Burkhardt
- Tim & Kara Chisholm
- Frank L. Coulson III & Lesley Coulson
- William & Susan Costin
- Jesse & Maura Daniels
- The Anne and David B. Ford, Jr. Foundation
- David & Caroline C. Grau
- Nat & Shaina Flynn Hamilton ’01
- Nicholas & Michelle Karalis
- Jim & Lauren Lawson
- The Lisnoff Family
- William F. and Langie Manley Mannion '57
- Carlton & Nina Neel
- K. Donald & The Rev. Judith Harris Proctor
- Andrew & Jill Schardt
- Christopher J. Topolewski
- Donald & Cynthia Venema