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Rivier’s Women’s Soccer Team to Get First Taste of European Football
Nashua, NH - Normally at this time of year, college students across the country are trying to slow down and extend the last few weeks of their summer vacation before having to report back to the classroom. However, the women's soccer team at Rivier College is so excited about this season that they have been preparing for over two years to make it happen.
In a sport that Europeans call football, the Rivier squad is starting their season by departing on Friday, August 14th for a 10 day trip that will span Holland, Belgium and Germany. The trip will include contests against 3 different European football clubs, the first being a Dutch team on Sunday the 16th, then a match against a Belgian club on Thursday the 20th and wrapping up with a game against a German club on Saturday the 22nd. Following their own final match the Rivier squad will get to take in a professional game between two Dutch football clubs "VVV-Venlo" vs. "FC Groningen."
"I think the whole process has given us a common focus and it has been a carrot on the end of the stick in terms of a reward for all of the other things we have to do to get ready for a season in terms of training, keeping grades up etc." Says head coach Jeff Simoneau
In total, 18 members of the team, including players and coaches will be making the trip. Not only will this be a great vacation and team bonding experience, but the team will also have a chance to be trained by the coaching staff of Dutch professional team KNVB. In total the team will get three training sessions along with the three matches while exploring the European countries.
On the subject of his team getting instruction from a professional coach, Coach Simoneau replied, "I expect that they will perhaps get some different drills and ways to practice skills. As well as some different points of view on tactical approaches to the game, also the chance to say they worked with a professional coach from Europe."
He continued, "Everyone is excited for the trip and they have been constantly planning with each other about the trip and all the fun things we will be doing over there, as well as talk about how excited everyone is for the upcoming season. There is an overall buzz around the program that has not been here since the summer of 2006. So it is exciting!"
Be on the lookout for the next issue of Rivier Magazine in which the women's soccer team will be featured upon their return to campus, complete with player experiences and pictures from the trip.
To view the entire itinerary for the Rivier College Women's Soccer Team, please click here.
