Aug. 8, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University men's soccer team already has a leg up on their competition in 2003, as this is the preseason they will spend overseas in preparation for the upcoming season. NCAA rules allow a team to fundraise for an overseas trip once every four years and head coach Cameron Rast and his team will be heading to Europe on August 13 for a 12-day trip that will prepare the team for the season that lies ahead.
August 13 is the first day that the entire team can practice together and the Broncos will take advantage of that fact, having an early morning training session before bussing up to San Francisco to catch their flight to England.
"It (the trip) will be a great way to kickoff our season," said Rast. "We will have an advantage of additional preseason games to prepare us for what lies ahead. There really is nothing like the environment in Europe to inspire the passion in our players to get our season off to the right start."
While in England the Broncos will train, play four games with European squads as well as taking the opportunity to add a little culture. Between games and practices the team will take in the sights and sounds that will make this trip a truly memorable one for all involved.
"This will give us a chance to not only play soccer in a world class environment, but also to take in one of the best cultures in Europe," said Rast.
For many of the players on the team, this will be their first trip overseas to see a culture that is truly soccer crazy. Fortunately for them, they will have at least two veterans of the world class soccer scene in Ryan Cochrane and Steve Cronin. Both players, who have spent the last three years as members of the U.S. U-20 squad and have traveled all over the world for competitions.
Most recently the duo helped the U.S. to a 4-0 record at the USASA Soccer Festival that was held in Houston, Texas.
Following the Broncos' trip overseas, they will return to the United States to complete their preseason training before their first game on August 30. SCU will take part in the UC Irvine Tournament on August 30 and September 1, taking on Alabama A&M in the first game before facing Fresno State in their second game.