Hatters Visit France, Spain During Overseas Trip

Stetson women’s soccer has embarked on a European Tour as the Hatters gear up for what should be an outstanding 2017 campaign. The trip is scheduled from May 16-25 and take the Hatters through France and Spain.

The Hatters are traveling in Europe to train and compete May 16-25.

Under NCAA rules, soccer teams are permitted one preseason tour every four years. Stetson will benefit from up to 10 days of practice prior to departing for Europe. The Hatters will play three games against various club and professional teams during the trip, which was funded individually by members of the soccer program.

“In my past experiences doing a foreign tour at St. Bonaventure, I saw how traveling and experiencing soccer in other cultures not only broadened our players world views, brought our team closer together and also allowed them to experience other cultures through one common theme: soccer,” Stetson head coach Manoj Khettry said. “I know the players will enjoy seeing not only two beautiful countries but they will see one of the cathedrals of world soccer when we visit Camp Nou in Barcelona, and visit one of the most beautiful, historic and romantic cities in the world in Paris.”

The Hatters will train and compete during their trip, which includes stops in Copenhagen, Paris, and Barcelona. The Hatters will play a schedule against club and professional teams while also visiting landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs Elysee in Paris, and many Olympic sites in Barcelona.

“To be able to play three games against European competition will be invaluable in aiding our players’ development,” Khettry said. “I’m so grateful to our administration for allowing us to do this trip and I hope it becomes a regular feature of this program that once every four years we can do a foreign tour. My hope is that the players and families will remember this trip for the rest of their lives.”

Stetson finished the 2016 campaign with a 9-7-2 overall record and reached the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament for the second straight year in 2016. The Hatters return 19 letter winners from last season and are expected to be among the ASUN favorites in 2017.

-GoHatters.com