Women's Soccer | 3/20/2018 2:35:00 PM

In what she described as "a trip of a lifetime," Gail Mann and her Nazareth College women's soccer team spent their spring break (March 10-18) in the culturally diverse setting of England and France with landmarks such as Westminster Abbey and the Eiffel Tower as noteworthy backdrops
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"The purpose of the trip was to play soccer against international competition, but it ended up being much more than that," Mann said of the 46-person travel party comprised of coaches, players, parents and administrators. "I think everyone enjoyed the unique opportunity to use soccer as a way to see historic landmarks to experience different cultures."

For Nazareth's eight seniors who made the trip, the excursion served as a last hurrah of sorts as the Golden Flyers played exhibition "friendlies" in London suburbs against Reading Royals FC and Queens Park Rangers, winning each by one-goal margins. A third "friendly" in France against FC Paris Arc-En-Ciel was canceled due to inclement weather.

Senior Kate Billington scored for Nazareth in a 1-0 win over Reading on March 13. Seniors Paige Sullivan and Laura Herman had goals in a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Queens Park on March 14.

In between, the Golden Flyers, with assistance from Premier International Tours, made visits to landmarks such as the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Eiffel Tour, Chateau de Versailles and Arc de Triomphe. They also experienced an English Premier League game featuring Arsenal against Wattford.

"I wasn't really sure how it would work with such a large group," said Mann, "but based on the success of this trip, it's something I would like to try to work through every four years. My hope is that it was a trip that they will never forget."