When Head Coach Richie Grant walks onto the practice field, he sees an array of players from a variety of cultures. Each teammate played his part to make The U of M men's soccer team one of the nation's best. The men all come from different backgrounds, but share one common goal: soccer.
"I have great respect for the blending of cultures. It prepares you for the real world," said Grant.
The team is comprised of 25 men who bring their own special talent to the game. With six players from Ireland, one from Scotland, one from Argentina and 17 from the States, this blend of cultures has taken U of M to the top of Conference USA.
"From California to Argentina, all of the players bring a passion for the sport," said Grant. "That keeps us together. They respect each others differences and have worked through their barriers."
So far, that passion has helped them to dominate C-USA, with a record of 11-3-1, they've secured the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. The team is focused on winning, but they are not letting their success go to their heads.
"We keep humble," said Gary Connolly senior defense and midfielder from Ireland. "We don't get carried away; we just keep playing the underdog."
For the senior players, this year is their last chance to prove to themselves and show The U of M what hard work and dedication can produce.
"This is the last chance that we have to perform our best, so we can leave our mark on the school and take the program in a new direction," said Sebastian Vecchio, senior goalkeeper from Argentina. "There is a big difference between this year and last year. This year, we know what to expect."
One of these differences is that the game is more vigorous in the States and the amount of athleticism is greater.
"The athleticism here is a step up from the standard back home," Connolly said. "You have to become as athletically strong as the Americans."
Along with the difficulties of adapting to the sport and its vigorous nature, the players are also adapting to the distance home and family. Being in a new place can be a lonely experience but these players have a different view of being half a world away.
"You miss home, and you always miss family, but with six people here from the same place, it is a constant reminder of home," said Connolly. "The first year or so is a big adjustment, but when you get over the transition you have 24 automatic friends."
Those 24 friends helped Mark Gourlay, defense and midfielder from Scotland, through the frustrating start he had with a stress fracture during the pre-season when he first joined the team.
"My teammates helped me settle in quickly," said Gourlay. "I get on well with the Scots/ Irish people because they are very similar. But it is easier to relate to the team since I already knew and spent time with over half the team, especially the older ones."
Grant is happy with how the players are pulling together to be a team through the veteran players assuming a leadership role."Leadership in the older players is a quality that is apart of culture," said Grant. "I see them work hard and learn their education through sports, which will prepare them for life after college."
It is that leadership and dedication that has taken this team to the top and they are enjoying the view.
"It's an experience, definitely something to tell your kids about" (studying and playing sports abroad), said Connolly. "The weather's lovely, the people are friendly and southern hospitality is good," said Connolly.
