SBU soccer is currently in southern Brazil on a preseason mission trip. Midfielder Kelly Isaac is keeping a journal for SBUBearcats.com during the trip. The junior from Wales will update periodically on some of the adventures during the unique experience.
Day One - Monday
Before we even get excited about the Brazil trip, our thoughtful coach awakes us at 6:00 a.m. Awaiting us are the four fitness tests that we have been preparing for all preseason. After all that running, coach was kind enough to let us scrimmage for 40 minutes. For me the scrimmage was okay; however my legs were starting to turn to jelly.
All the girls passed and there were no injuries so it was a good day … NOW we can start getting excited. We get 45 minutes to get cleaned up before we head for Kansas City International Airport. We get to Kansas City, eat and then board the plane for Charlotte, North Carolina. On the flight I'm sitting with the one and only E DOG (Emily Hamilton) and Tam (Tamaria Hollis) who seems to be really enjoying her magazine.
We arrive at NC and we get an hour layover, which is just enough time to practice up on our skills. Coach Jason Massie (Massive Time) goes wild as usual.
We get the call and finally it's time to board the plane to Rio de Janeiro.
Day Two - Tuesday
After a long flight we finally arrive in Rio de Janeiro. Everyone's very excited to be here … our hotel is in the mountains so before we get to our hotel, we have another hour and thirty minutes before we arrive. The bus ride was good as it gave us time to take in a little of Brazil. As we got higher, the view from the mountains was lovely and soon enough all cameras were out.
We get to the hotel and get settled in before we have lunch. After lunch we head to our first training session. Due to the weather, we were relocated to a training facility in the town of Terasopolis. We were informed that this was a Division 2 men's soccer stadium and let's just say we are very lucky to have the facilities that we are lucky to have at SBU.
It was nice to stretch our legs, but they still felt a little heavy from our fitness testing the day before. After training we head back to the hotel, take a shower and eat.
We have a small team meeting, and then bed time cannot get here soon enough. Our hotel floor was silent by 8:30 p.m. and we got some much needed sleep.
Day Three - Wednesday
GAME DAY!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOHHHHOOOOOOOO
Early morning call at 6:30 for breakfast at 7 a.m.
We head out to the field to get in one last practice. Everyone is looking good and refreshed. We get in a small scrimmage and it goes well, giving us a lot of confidence before our game.
Brazil is cold, but we didn't expect it to be this cold. So on the way back from training, we take a small shopping trip to stock up on some warm clothes. We were not prepared for this weather. Four of the same girls buy the same hoodie to which Lindsey (Boden) doesn't seem to be to impressed with.
After shopping we get back to the hotel, eat, freshen up and head back to the field at 1 for a 2 p.m. kickoff. The game goes well and we all put in a great performance. It was a good confidence booster preparing us for our upcoming season. The Brazilian girls were amazing. The skill level was higher than ourselves and they had pace to back it up. However we stuck together as a team and put in a great performance. With NINETEEN new freshmen, we have a lot of work to do, but we are working hard and everything is coming together.
After the game, some of the girls have a little dance-off with the Brazilians, and we have some pictures taken. I had to have a stem (dance) after the game to which one Brazilian player took interest. Not knowing how to explain how it works, I let her have a little go. At first she felt nothing but as I turned it higher and higher, she got a feel of it and ripped it off. This attracted a crowd and soon everyone wanted a go … funny!
After a little bonding moment with the Brazilians, we head back to the hotel to eat and get cleaned up. The girls are on a high right now. As I am typing this, all I can hear are screams and laughter coming from one particular room where the team has packed into. I have no idea what they are doing.
I feel left out so I'm going to leave you and see what's going on. Bye!!!!!!!
