International Travel

International travel has always been an important part of the Rhodes College soccer program. In the past, the opportunity has not only been a great soccer experience, but it has also been a tremendous cultural experience for those who have participated. Because the NCAA allows Division III teams to travel abroad once every three years, players at Rhodes have traditionally been able to make at least one trip overseas during their time at Rhodes.

Spain 2011
The Lynx spent 10 days in August of 2010 in Spain. The team spent the majority of the time in Barcelona and Madrid, with side excursions to Sitges and Toledo.

Some of the trip's highlights included: Spanish Super Cup Match, FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium Day trip to Sitges and Toledo Tours of the Bernabeu and Camp Nou International games against FC Barcelona, RCD Espanyol, and AD Torrejon FC Sightseeing Guell Park, La Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Salvadore Dali Museum, and Montserrat. Read the team's blog from the trip by clicking here:
The Rhodes Women's Soccer Team traveled to Austria and Germany in 2007. The Lynx spent 10 days training and sight seeing in Salzburg and Vienna, Austria and Munich, Germany.

Some of the trip's highlights included: • Hohensalzburg Castle, Nonnberg Abby (featured in "The Sound of Music") and Mozart's birth place in Salzburg • The Kehlsteinhaus (Hitler's Eagles Nest) near Salzburg • A 4 day stay at the BSFZ Sudstadt sports center in Vienna including a game against the Admira U-15 Boys • UEFA Women's Cup qualifing match between SV Neulengbach (Vienna, Austria) and Hibernian (Edinburgh, Scotland) • A humbling visit to the Mauthausen concentration camp • Schonbrunn and the Hofburg Imperial Palaces and St. Stephen's Cathedral in Viennna • Nymphenburg Palace, the Residenz of the Bavarian Electors and Kings, St Michael's and the Frauenkirche, the Glockenspeil in Marienplatz and the site of the 1972 Olympics all in Munich Read E.A. Lawnin's ('10) 2007 European Trip Journal. View the 2007 European Trip Pictures.

Former coach Andy Marcinko first took the Rhodes College women’s soccer team overseas in 1994, when they traveled to Finland for an eleven-day tour including touch soccer matches and plenty of sightseeing. In Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku, the Lynx faced six of the country’s top women’s teams, most of which were led by national team players. In one particularly exciting game, the Lynx tied Pistula 3-3, after opening ceremonies in which parachutist dropped in with the game ball and an American flag. The team also trained with coaches of semiprofessional soccer clubs Pyrkia and Ilves, and hosted a clinic for the area’s U-13 players.

1994 European Trip Pictures

The Lynx women’s soccer team returned to Europe again in 1998, this time landing in Holland, Denmark, and Sweden. Playing five games against stronger and older teams, the Rhodes women gained valuable experience for the fall season they soon began after returning to the United States. During the trip, some of the soccer highlights included a game against an all-star team in Helsingborg, Sweden, as well as a game against Sweden’s top women’s club- FC Malmo (Rhodes’ host while there). The team also watched a professional game between FC Copenhagen and Her Folge at Parken, the national stadium of Denmark. When the team was not busy practicing or playing games, it toured several cities including Amsterdam, Holland, Copenhagen, Roskilde, and Helsingor, Denmark (where it visited Kronberg Castle, site of Shakespeare’s Hamlet), and Malmo and Lund, Sweden.

1998 European Trip Pictures

The Lynx traveled to Germany and Italy in the summer of 2002. While abroad, the team played four matches against European opponents- two in Germany and two in Italy. One highlight was the team’s opportunity to play against Niederkeirchen of the German women’s Bundesliga (equivalent to the WUSA in the United States). Players were also able to sightsee in Heidelberg, Speyer, and Worm in Germany and Venice, Sottomarina/Chioggia, and Jesolo de Lido in Italy.

2002 European Trip Pictures

International Travel Update
2014 Ireland
The Lynx women’s soccer team traveled to Ireland for eight days to compete with three international teams. The team was able to spend time in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny, and Kinsale.
Highlights of the trip included:

Three international friendly matches against University College of Dublin, Wexford Women’s Futbol Club, and University College of Limerick
Attended Liverpool vs Dortmund preseason match at Anfield Stadium
Saw a variety of sights including the Irish National Park, the Rock of Cashel and the Blarney Stone

Find out more at http://rwsireland.blogspot.com/ 8150