Alma College “Scots� Women's Soccer Invades Barcelona Tour Organized By: Excel International Sports
The Alma College Women's Soccer team arrived in Barcelona, Spain on Tuesday as they embark a week-long trip to the European country. The squad will be primarily in Barcelona, however they will venture out to the city of Girona during their stay. Scots assistant coach Meghan Gorsuch planned the trip directly with a European soccer tour company called Excel International Sports, who tailored the trip to the needs of the women from Alma. Today's account is through Gorsuch's eyes and thoughts. "Basically how that works is I gave them a list of must-do's, soccer oriented and tourist oriented," said Gorsuch. "They combined those things with their suggested activities to create a personal itinerary specific to our team." This is the first blog of their trip with the information being provided by members of the travel party. The goal is to have an update each day but if they are having too much fun, who knows? They might miss a day but we will do the best we can! The teams have four international games scheduled, each against a different opponent. These opponents are CF Pardinyes (www.cfpardinyes.org/cat/equipos2.asp?id=119), Sant Gabriel (santgabrielfemenino.weebly.com), RCD Espanyol (www.rcdespanyol.com/ingles/index.php) and L'Estartit (www.uelestartit.es). All are deemed to be quality matches and are expected to push the Scots competitively in their preparation for the 2014 season back here in Michigan. They also have three training sessions, one run by Gorsuch and fellow assistant coach Ann Kennedy, which was today (Tuesday) and the other two run by guest coach Raul Caballero. Training sessions are held at Sant Matri Condal FC right in Barcelona.
Tour Organized By: Excel International Sports www.EuroSoccerTours.net 410-489-2287
"Our trip kicked off on the right foot as we ran into multiple Alma College alumni at the Grand Rapids airport," remarked Gorsuch. "They requested a team picture on their personal phone because they were so excited to share in the special experience of a 'Traveling Scots' squad! We coined ourselves this by hashtagging on twitter, Instagram and Facebook so, watch for it. "We have two members of our team - Ana Saucedo and Lyndsey Malson - who have been doing a great job in their translation duties, holding fluid conversations in Spanish with the people here in Spain. We are very proud of Lyndsey with her language skills, outgoing personality and her smile. Ana has been very helpful to our non-Spanish speaking trip participants, especially at meal time!"
After checking into the hotel, (www.hotelfrontmaritim.com/es/hotel-front-maritim), the team hit the proverbial wall of jet leg and exhaustion, which quickly turned around when they took the field for their first training session. The girls felt lucky to play on a beautiful turf field located mid-city, surrounded by local buildings and beautiful trees in a location called Sant Marti Condal FC. Getting out and playing together immediately perked up the energy, excitement, and vibe of the trip and the girls. After practice they headed back to the hotel to unpack and hit the beach. As a shock to their American systems, they soon discovered that the beach was mostly topless. After that surprise, they soaked up every second of the diverse and free spirited culture they found on their first day in Spain. They spent three hours on the sand, where the sun was shining and the water was warm, laughing, playing, and enjoying each other and all the people around them. "For most of us, it is our first time to the Mediterranean Sea, and after the beach, we were ready for dinner and a night of recharging the batteries," concluded Gorsuch. "We will check in tomorrow and keep you aware of what we are up to each day. What a great week to be a Scot!"
Tour Organized By: Excel International Sports www.EuroSoccerTours.net 410-489-2287
Day 2 for Alma Women's Soccer in Spain
Wednesday was the second day of the Alma College women's soccer adventure in Spain and it was a busy one for the traveling Scots. A morning workout with a guest coach was followed by the first exhibition contest of the trip. It was a day of workouts, culture, travel through the countryside and even a little competition to finish the evening. One moment more memorable than the next for the girls from Alma. Below is a review of the day through the eyes of Alma assistant coach Meghan Gorsuch - she gives great insight and dialogue of their experiences. "This morning we had a session with guest coach Raul Caballero. He was fantastic and the girls seemed to enjoy a fresh set of eyes and drills. His English was not so great, but that added to the cultural experience, not to mention it was a nice reminder that our sport knows no language good soccer is good soccer. Something awesome that we learned this morning: a tactic used to increase both the speed of the ball and speed of the play, is that they actually water the turf with a sprinkler system before each session. As Raul was explaining this to us, the girls were mid warm-up on the opposite side of the field and had quite a pleasant surprise as they emerged from the ground and started up! They weren't complaining, in fact sprinting around dodging the water, which by the way must have been the most intense sprinkling system up to date.
Tour Organized By: Excel International Sports www.EuroSoccerTours.net 410-489-2287
That thing was launching at least 50-60 yards! The wet turf was a fun and effective way to switch up session to something we aren't necessarily accustomed to doing in the US which is a huge reason why I opted to have a guest coach come in to run a few sessions during our time here. It's important for the girls (and coaches) to learn and experience new and exciting things in all the ways we can during our time here, Raul certainly gave us that experience today. Mallory Simon got stung by a bee right before training started as well ... her reaction and exclamation of "not knowing there are bees in Spain!" provided some entertainment for all. Lunch at the hotel was followed by a match tonight versus CF Pardinyes. This was about a two hour bus ride through rural Spain to get there and our tour guide Uri had informed us that this team never gets to participate in international games, so they were very excited for us to be here tonight. We tied 3-3 tonight after being up 2-0 in the first half. The Scots scored the first goal of the game as Sr. F Mackenzie Smith (Saginaw/Nouvel) hit the back of the net on an assist by So. M Jessica Burg (Grand Ledge/Grand Ledge). Alma went up by two as So. F Brianna Russell (Plainwell/Delton-Kellogg) was helped by Jr. M Agatha Weddle (White Lake/White Lake Northern). CF Pardinyes answered with one of their own and the Scots had a 2-1 halftime lead. The hosts then scored the next two goals of the match and were up 3-2 as time wound down. However, the Scots would earn the 3-3 tie as Weddle tallied a goal that was assisted by Jr. M Kelly Wilson (Midland/Dow). The match was played in the town of Llieda, about two hours from the team's hotel in Barcelona. A very large and enthusiastic crowd was on hand to cheer on the local team and the atmosphere was great for all involved. The girls feel very blessed to have the opportunities to play in environments like tonight. Small gifts were exchanged and pictures were taken. There were smiles and laughter all around and even though it was late, nobody noticed! Well, that's it from day two of the Scots trip to Spain and we can't wait to see what is in store for us tomorrow!"
Tour Organized By: Excel International Sports www.EuroSoccerTours.net 410-489-2287
A day of sightseeing for the Alma Women's Soccer team in Barcelona‌
Thursday was a day off from the pitch for the Alma College women's soccer team in Barcelona and the girls took advantage with a day of sightseeing around the historic city. Assistant Coach Meghan Gorsuch gives us a look into the day's events which included many funny moments involving many members of the team and team chaperone Denny Griffin, the Scots' softball coach, who is a supervising member of the travel party. "No soccer today. We slept in and then took the metro into the heart of Barcelona for a day of exploring and shopping. First stop was Born Neighborhood, an area filled with narrow alleys and street art. There were many local designers and shops here, the 'non-tourist' streets. We loved supporting the locals! In this area, there was also an incredible church, Basilica de Santa Maria del mar, dating back to the 1329-1383 era. The church was very tall and had the most intricate and colorful stained glass windows. As Tammy (Denny Griffin's wife) would say, 'you just can't beat the architecture here.' Next stop, Portal de l'Angel, is the most famous shopping street in Barcelona. Shop after shop after shop - bye bye euros! We then spent the afternoon exploring La Rambla, a long tree-lined street with every vendor from flowers to flags, music and books to soccer jerseys. A collection of pavement cafĂŠs and souvenir kiosks dotted the landscape as well. It was hopping with people, locals and tourists and was very exciting. Yet it was a bit overwhelming trying to maintain such a large group. Here we discovered La Boqueria, more formally known as Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria. This is the largest market in Barcelona and dates all the way back to 1217, when tables were installed near the old city gate to sell meat. Now it is flourishing with all things fresh and colorful. Bountiful amounts of fruits, vegetables, freshly butchered meats, seafood of all kinds (the crabs were still moving!), nuts of all variety, spices, and so much more. Everything was so fresh and fragrant with so many vendors and customers. The hustle and bustle of this place was unlike anything I have ever seen and was truly the experience of a lifetime. I purchased a strawberry mango smoothie ... and it was the juiciest, most perfect thing I have ever tasted! Tour Organized By: Excel International Sports www.EuroSoccerTours.net 410-489-2287
The girls indulged in the cultural immersion and were bright eyed the entire time, unable to stop observing all of their surroundings. Last stop, Parc de la Ciutadella, a park that hosts 70 acres of the city including historical gardens, a lake, and most notably a fountain of considerable size designed by Josep Fontsere. The walk through the park was one of beauty. The fountain water was sea mint green and you had a hard time taking your eyes off of it. The sound of the spraying water was relaxing for all, and I personally could have hung out there all afternoon. By this time, it had been a full day of activities, and the girls were tired of walking. None the less, it was an experience we will never forget." Highlights of the day from the coaching staff included, but were not limited to: - Lily's shoe broke mid-city and she had to buy new shoes (mom told her not to wear them and she was right!) Teammate Allie Koning traded shoes with her, nicest teammate and friend award. - Aggie's dress flying up Marilyn Monroe style while walking over street vents, Allie Konings as well! - Sam Waldrop scanning her metro pass, then running through the spinning gate just to discover the card didn't take, therefore the gate didn't spin. Smack. Hilarious! - Denny kissed a camel (see photo evidence) - Successfully navigating without our cell phones, a refreshing day without technology. A very nice day for all of us and we are now ready to get back to playing some more soccer tomorrow. Till then, goodbye from Spain!"
Tour Organized By: Excel International Sports www.EuroSoccerTours.net 410-489-2287
Alma Women's Soccer in Spain Continues..
Friday brought another challenge for the Alma College women's soccer team as they took time off from sightseeing to take on CE Sant Gabriel Femenino in their second exhibition of the trip. Although the atmosphere was a bit different than the first match, the Scots still had a great learning experience and the final outcome is secondary. Below is assistant coach Meghan Gorsuch's recap of Friday's events for the Scots. "Today we enjoyed a tour and visit to the Camp Nou Stadium, home of FC Barcelona since 1957 and is one of the biggest soccer clubs in the world. With a capacity for 98,000 spectators, it is the largest stadium in Europe. The club has its own museum and megastore, both of which we explored in its entirety. Their club saying "Mes que en club" translating to "More than a club" has a political history of great importance to the people of Barcelona. When the dictator Franco was in control, the language specific to the area, Catalan, was banned and anyone caught speaking the language would be killed. Camp Nou provided a safe place for the people to go and speak their language freely, together in the community, without fear of punishment. The thought was that there is not much the authority can do against a group of roughly 100,000 people, which is why FC Barcelona has coined "Mes que en club" as their team and club slogan. The stadium was breathtakingly huge, and to think when we saw it, it was empty! It is hard to imagine it filled to capacity with avid and loyal fans. For the girls to have the opportunity to soak it all in and be a part of the big soccer picture here was very entertaining and genuinely enjoyed by all. What a special treat to be able to experience Camp Nou, a place of great importance to not only Barcelona, but the whole country of Spain. Our evening consisted of our second game, with our opponent being Sant Gabriel. The location of this game was much different than the first match. This field was located right on the beach, surrounded by palm trees and elevated terrain. Unlike the last team, we were not necessarily showered with gifts and affection. We were however provided with a bucket of cold water and giant sponge. I'm sure you can imagine the fun our girls had with this! We fell short 3-0 to Sant Gabriel, however the girls played an excellent match and showed much improvement from game one. Tour Organized By: Excel International Sports www.EuroSoccerTours.net 410-489-2287
Although a win is always preferred, we were all feeling blessed to be able to experience playing one of Barca's top clubs. (Assistant Coach) Ann Kennedy and I expressed to the team that sometimes the biggest things to take away from a game like this are recognizing the things your team lacks, and then applying those shortcomings to your own game. Playing a Spanish side allows us to observe and introduce new concepts to our "American style" soccer, and Sant Gabriel certainly showed us a game outside of our norm. It was refreshing for us as coaches to hear our athletes saying 'they are so good with their first touch, look at that patience on the ball, wow they are so good!' because this shows us that our girls are eager to improve and competitively good sports. They are always learning and finding something to take away from each match, regardless of the final outcome. We left the field feeling very proud of the team effort and work effort, and we really couldn't have asked for more from the girls tonight. We are hopeful that the team will bring a piece of the Spanish game back to Scotland Yard, we know that we will be doing so as coaches. Tomorrow (Saturday) will be spent recovering and certainly our athletic trainer and assistant coach Denny Griffin will be a popular person."
Tour Organized By: Excel International Sports www.EuroSoccerTours.net 410-489-2287
Alma Women's Soccer continues Spain trip
The Alma College women's soccer team continued their Barcelona trip over the weekend and it consisted of rest/relaxation, more sightseeing and their last exhibition. More fun was had by all, but sadly, the excursion is coming to a rapid conclusion - the inevitable 'all good things must end'. Below is a recap of their weekend from the eyes of assistant coach Meghan Gorsuch. “On Saturday the 9th, the team had a morning off from training due to bumps and bruises and exhaustion. The team had another exhibition but fell short against RCD Espanyol, one of the top pro teams for fem fĂştbol and they proved to be an outstanding opponent. The one humorous thing that did happen this day is Denny and Tammy (Griffin) bought some buckets/detergent to do laundry and went to hang the clothes outside of our hotel almost got arrested. Not allowed here! So they took it to a public park and decided to hang it there, and even then it didn't dry in time. Ah, the adventures of an international road trip! On Sunday, most of the group took a morning subway to Park Guell, a garden complex with architectural elements designed by the famous Catalan Antoni Gaudi and was built throughout 1900-1914. It was truly a gorgeous sight, full of mosaic colorful design and intricate attention to detail. It is hard to sum up in words because it is unlike anything in the USA. Even the photos don't do it justice!
Tour Organized By: Excel International Sports www.EuroSoccerTours.net 410-489-2287
In the afternoon we grabbed a sack lunch and took the bus to Girona, a providence in NE Spain founded in 79 BC. This historic city stands on a steep hill, with lots of narrow streets and old towers. The city wall wraps around the entire providence, providing loads of exercise and wonderful bird eye views of the old town and its contents. The cathedral in Girona was absolutely gorgeous, Cathedral of Santa Maria de Girona. Its construction first started Roman style in the 11th century and later continued 13th century gothic style. The cathedral was completed in the 18th century. It is hard to wrap your head around the history behind all of the things we have been able to see, tour, and experience. It has been the most uplifting experience to learn new things, absorb new information and understand things in a different light. This evening we had our last game against L'Estartit. Even with a loss, it was one of the most beautiful locations for a soccer pitch I have ever been able to experience. Located in the elevated hills and in a resort town, we quickly learned that Spanish soccer can be quite different than the way we are used to playing. Our game in the states seems to be a lot more physical than the Spaniards are used to here. In the first half of the game we didn't play the soccer we know we can, and quickly fell behind. The second half was another story as the girls played with the intensity and creativity that Alma knows how to play. We were able to get a lot more chances on goal. Had we played our game for the entirety of the match, the score may have been a different story. (Game recap from assistant coach Ann Kennedy) On the ride home from our game to the hotel, approximately a two hour drive, the girls had a Riff Off. For those of you who haven't seen Pitch Perfect, this is a musical battle between two groups. The back of the bus versus the front of the bus with the coaches determining the winner at the end of the round. The singing and laughter provided entertainment for all except maybe the driver and it made the ride seem much shorter than the two hours. Today's (Monday) activities are still forthcoming. Stay tuned for our last day update although I will tell you the tour this morning was incredible!
Tour Organized By: Excel International Sports www.EuroSoccerTours.net 410-489-2287
Alma “Scots� Women's Soccer on their way home after a week in Spain When most people read this blog, the Alma College women's soccer team will be safely on their way back to the United States and ultimately mid-Michigan. A whirlwind of a seven-day trip is coming to an end, but the memories will live forever. This last blog from Spain comes to us from Denny Griffin, long-time softball coach for the Scots and the team chaperone for this excursion. Enjoy this final chapter and for you parents and family, the next step will be to see your daughters back home! "I managed to stay one step away from the police today (see earlier blog and laundry!) since we took a morning guided tour of Barcelona. Our tour guides name was Jordi and he did a wonderful job. He began the tour explaining to us that where we are staying used to be an ugly industrial portion of town, but when the decision was made to host the 1992 Olympics, the city cleaned up the area and created the living spaces of apartments, and hotels to accommodate all the athletes. From there we toured the Olympic village area and the adjacent harbor which now consists of hotels and apartments. There is a Volunteers Fountain in the middle of the square honoring the 55,000 volunteers it took to host the games.
Next up was the LaSagrada Familia Cathedral, but on the way we passed another Gaudi Cathedral and a building which looks like a bullet and is spectacular at night since it's lit up in many different colors. We then passed an old bull fighting arena of which they no longer use for the sport. The residents voted to discontinue the old custom and leave that activity to the history books. Now the facility is used for concerts, and other events. Finally we arrived at the big event, the LaSagrada Familia cathedral.
Tour Organized By: Excel International Sports www.EuroSoccerTours.net 410-489-2287
It was a spectacular sight and I think everyone really enjoyed seeing it and learning more about the history of the cathedral. All in all, this country has unbelievable history and architecture which amazes you at every turn. Well, that's it for now. Hard to believe we are heading home tomorrow, but it has been a great trip with a lot of memories." There will be very little time for the weary as the team will report to camp on Thursday night. New Head Coach Matt Saul will welcome the girls and there are sure to be many stories told of the excursion to Spain! Quite the way to begin the 2014 campaign - next goal: A MIAA Championship!
Tour Organized By: Excel International Sports www.EuroSoccerTours.net 410-489-2287