Stonington — Someone driving a vehicle late Saturday night or early Sunday morning intentionally caused thousands of dollars of damage to the Stonington High School soccer field named in memory of 9-11 victim Josh Piver.

The 23-year-old Piver, a 1996 graduate of the school who played goalkeeper on the soccer team, was working for Cantor Fitzgerald in the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City when he was killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

His family has since created a scholarship in his memory, and this fall the Stonington High School soccer team hosted the Piver Cup soccer tournament for the first time. A plaque mounted on a nearby boulder notes the field is named in his memory. The plaque was not damaged.

Josh’s sister Erika Piver said she went to the field Sunday when she heard about the damage on social media.

“It makes me sad that someone would do this,” she said. “Do they have nothing better to do than tear up a soccer field that's used by kids and dedicated to a victim of 9-11? It’s a happy thing for the community and you tear it up because you're bored?

Piver added that her reaction was not just because the field is named in her brother’s memory but because so many kids enjoy playing on the field.

Just four years ago, the town borrowed $2.2 million to not only install artificial turf on the football field but also to rebuild all the grass fields including Piver Field. Since then the town and school system have implemented a maintenance plan and have taken pains to avoid playing on the field when it rains so it is not damaged. 

On Sunday, there were water-filled ruts caused by tires tracks in large circles and figure-8 formations. Large chunks of sod and mud had been thrown onto the undamaged grass.

The damage has rendered the field unusable. The boys’ soccer team is slated to next play on Tuesday in the semifinals of the ECC tournament, but that game is in Waterford. 

The team will host a first-round game in the state Class M tournament next week, but that game is expected to be played on the artificial turf.

While the field is fenced, it appears the vehicle entered an unlocked gate at the remote northwest corner of the field. Tires marks could be seen Sunday afternoon in the grass entering and exiting the gate and extending along the fence and back toward the softball field and parking lot.

Police Capt. Todd Olson said Sunday that police have not yet identified a suspect and are investigating the damage. He asked anyone with information about the vandalism to call police at (860) 599-4411. School officials could not be reached to comment.  

Angry residents posted numerous comments about the damage on the Stonington Community Forum Facebook page Sunday.   

"WOW! Unbelievable! I went to see the damage for myself today. Erica Piver arrived shortly after to see for herself and was in total disbelief. I can't begin to describe the anger I felt seeing the damage. If there is anyone that has information regarding the individuals responsible for such a stupid senseless act, please call SPD. These individuals need to be caught," posted Chris Devoe.

j.wojtas@theday.com