Have you ever visited a new place, fallen in love, and dreamed of the day you could return?
For the Loras College Men’s and Women’s Soccer Teams, that dream became a reality as they completed their seventh trip to Costa Rica with Costa Rica Soccer Tours!
For their latest trip, Loras College sent two of the men’s teams and one women’s team on a weeklong adventure of a lifetime. While some of the excursions – such as a zip-line tour over the rainforest canopy, a white water rafting adventure, and a day relaxing on the beach – found the groups enjoying the experience together, most of the week was focused on allowing each separate team to bond.
On the first full day in San Jose, all three groups dove head-first into a unique cultural experience by participating in community service activities and taking walking tours of the city.
After a brief lunch, the men’s teams suited up for their first friendly match of the trip.
When those matches were finished, it was the women’s turn to dominate the field.
In total, each team competed in three friendly matches with Costa Rican teams from all over the region. When asked about the benefits of playing such challenging matches three weeks before preseason had even begun back home, Loras Coach Dan Rothert had this to say:
“We’re going to be that much better off for it going into the season, because our fitness levels will be higher, our touch will be crisp and clean, and the leadership and camaraderie has already come together as we get ready for the season. I think we’ll start the season flying instead of just getting going. It gives us almost a month’s advantage on other teams, which is fantastic.”
When the matches were complete, all three teams enjoyed getting to know their opponents, snacking on fresh fruit, and celebrating the game MVPs, who were awarded Gatorades at the end of the match.
Aside from the soccer games, some of the most memorable moments were the visits to a local market, spending a relaxing day at the Pacific Beach and in downtown Tamarindo, and volunteering with children at a school for impoverished families.
The teams even squeezed in a bit of training right in the surf!
Needless to say, we’re looking forward to planning a brand new custom itinerary for next year’s athletes. Thank you, Loras College, for continuing to trust Costa Rica Soccer Tours with giving your athletes the experience of a lifetime!
Click here to start planning your custom itinerary with Costa Rica Soccer Tours.
