Welcome

Concordia University Wisconsin extends a hearty welcome to all guests visiting our campus for this athletic competition. It is our desire that this activity be an enjoyable, wholesome event for all of us.

“Winning isn’t everything, but the desire to win motivates us to achievement.” This is a more accurate quotation from a famous football coach of the past than the quote that is actually used. To an extent, it also describes the Christian philosophy of Concordia University Wisconsin. To be more precise, it is our desire to strive for excellence in all that we do, with God’s law and Gospel giving us direction.

Our academic programs at Concordia are of the highest quality, as we strive for “Excellence in Christian Education.” Our athletic program is the same. With the context of Christian faith, we attempt to achieve these same heights in our spiritual life.

Athletics at Concordia provide a variety of opportunities for our students to grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The program is directed by faculty of the university and is governed by The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) with a Christian philosophy.

We invite our friends to visit us often to take advantage of the opportunity to prepare for a career in Education, Nursing, Pastoral Ministry, Business, Social Work, Sports Medicine, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, or any of the 61 major disciplines offered along with doctorates in physical therapy, pharmacy, and nursing practice. CUW grants AA, BA, BS, and MS degrees.

May God richly bless you in all your endeavors and thank you for being with us today!

Dr. Patrick T. Ferry President of Concordia University Wisconsin

A Quality Education In An Ideal Setting

Since its beginning in 1881, Concordia University Wisconsin has prided itself on “Excellence in Christian Education.” Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) has succeeded in becoming a progressive institution, while retaining the Lutheran, Christian tradition on which it was founded.

Concordia is a four-year, co-educational, liberal arts college offering 61 undergraduate majors and over 20 graduate level programs. It’s the largest Lutheran University in the United States with over 7,400 undergraduate, traditional, and nontraditonal students attending 16 different locations. The university has many co-curricular programs including all major sports, drama, music, spiritual life, student government, intramurals, and social activities and has one of the largest field houses of any private college in Wisconsin with an indoor track and soccer surface.

The educational and athletic facilities available to Concordia soccer players are unparalleled in NCAA Division III soccer in the Central region of the United States. Over the past six years, Concordia has invested millions of dollars into renovations and upgrades that are so impressive that the St. Louis Rams professional football team used the CUW campus for its summer training camp.

Located in Ozaukee County, Concordia is situated on the north shore of Lake Michigan. Cities of interest within a ten minute drive of Concordia are Cedarburg, which has a historic downtown area (Cedar Creek Settlement) filled with an array of specialty stores, art exhibits and museums, restaurants and inns; Grafton, with a thriving downtown area located on the Milwaukee River, and Mequon which boasts of majestic lake bluffs, stately homes, lush farmland and expansive open space.

A short fifteen minute drive from Concordia’s campus is the city of Milwaukee. With a population of over 500,000, Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin and the 22nd-largest city in the nation. Milwaukee is a fun and exciting place to experience with music festivals throughout the summer, a vibrant downtown night life throughout the year, and professional sports teams to follow such as the Milwaukee Wave Indoor soccer team, the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team, and the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team. Other cities of interest, such as Madison and Chicago, are a ninety minute drive from the city of Mequon.

Soccer complex: The newly renovated soccer venue is one of the most stunning soccer facilities in the Midwest. It features a one and a half million dollar synthetic turf field with seating capacity for over 800 soccer fans. (1)

Strength & Conditioning/Sports Medicine Facilities: Concordia’s seven million dollar sports fitness center features a world class athletic training facility with a state of the art hydrotherapy room and three separate workout rooms. (2)

Residence Hall: Completed in 2008, the five story, $22 million Coburg residence hall features individual, private bedrooms, semi-private bathrooms, and a central living room space. Coburg Hall is located on the shoreline of Lake Michigan which provides the residents with a breathtaking lakeshore view.

Bluff Restoration: In 2007, Concordia spent over eight million dollars to reshape and stabilize the lakeshore bluff so that it could be better utilized by the community. The newly designed shoreline features a private beach, an amphitheater, coastal wetlands and a breathtaking view of Lake Michigan.

Environmental Center: Situated 135 feet above majestic Lake Michigan on the southeast Wisconsin shoreline, the Concordia Center for Environmental Stewardship or CCES, is the primary study center at CUW for a variety of environmentally-oriented academic, outreach and research areas. (3)

Loeber Hall Upgrade: In 2010, Loeber Hall was remodeled for undergraduate science and includes state-of-the-art labs for chemistry, biology, and general science. The second floor of the expansion includes classrooms for the art department, health sciences, and other general studies. The new expansion overlooks a beautifully landscaped courtyard with a waterfall, walkways and park benches for student access.

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS1

2

3

A HISTORYOF SUCCESS.

HALL OF FAME: The accomplishments of the men’s soccer team can be directly attributed to the outstanding coaches and athletes that have participated in the program. In 2003, Dan Harris, a former CUW coach who was instrumental in establishing the foundation of excellence for the program, was the first person associated with the soccer team to be chosen for the Hall of Fame. Other players who were selected in subsequent years were Kou Seying (2005), Rob Morrison (2006), Ryan Unger (2007), the leading scorer in CUW soccer history, Dan Schmitz (2008), and Max Bluemel (2009). In 2010, the Hall will welcome its second goalkeeper, Darren Werner.

Darren Werner (pictured right) career stats: 33 career shutouts, .716 career goals against average, All Conference 3 years, All Region 2 years, All State 2 years, Captain 1 year, Team MVP 1 year, Concordia Athlete of the Year 1 year, Career record 64-18-1.

From its inception in 1984, Concordia men’s soccer has been a model for success and excellence in NAIA and NCAA Division III soccer. Over the past 26 years the men’s soccer team has won over 300 matches, has been crowned conference champions 11 times, and has participated in post-season play on 8 different occasions. Falcon soccer players have been tremendously successful on the field, receiving numerous All Conference (103), All Region (34), All America (8) and Academic All America (4) awards, as well as off the field as CUW soccer graduates perform their duties in a wide variety of career fields such as education, business, and medicine.

The 2010 campaign promises to continue this rich tradition as it celebrates its 27th soccer season.

Career Stats 79 games, 268 saves, 67 goals allowed, 38 shutouts/shared shutouts, 80% save percent, .84 goals against average

In spring 2010, the men’s soccer team participated in a volunteer respite event for children with special needs hosted by the nursing department in the Concordia field house. The players spent time with the children, entertaining them with all sorts of board games and athletic contests so that the parents could take some time to relax.

For the past 13 years, the team has hosted an indoor soccer tournament for the local soccer community. Youth soccer teams from all over the area visit the CUW field house to compete for trophies and awards. The men’s team organize and run the event and are involved in working the concession stand and officiating the games.

Youth Indoor Soccer Tournament

2009 Academic All America Tom Anderson

All AmericaPat Goolsby 1988, 1989Dan Schmitz 1988Robin Dorschner 1989Djuro Stojsavljevic 1991Jeff Mierow 1991Jason Papp 1996Peter Schreiber Jr. 2004

Academic All AmericaJohn Born Jr. 1991Andreas Batiansila 1996Travis Moulton 2006Tom Anderson 2010

All RegionRob Morrison 1987Robin Dorschner 1988Pat Goolsby 1988Dan Schmitz 1990Djuro Stojsavljevic 1991Jason Papp 1996Ryan Unger 1996, 1997Mike Martinich 1996

All RegionSteve Meteisis 1997, 1998Darren Werner 1998Ryan Middendorf 2000, 2001Jon Gridley 2001Steve Dziatkiewicz 2001, 2002Jake Banas 2002Peter Schreiber 2003, 2004, 2005Travis Moulton 2004, 2005, 2006Brian Nord 2006, 2007Mike Bruckner 2007Jon Waldhart 2008Brad Dent 2008Tom Anderson 2009Trevor Hess 2009

Conference Player of the YearDjuro Stojsavljevic 1991Max Bluemel 1992Jason Papp 1996Ryan Unger 1997, 1999Steve Dziatkiewicz 2002Peter Schreiber Jr. 2004Brian Nord 2007 (Offensive POY)

1. Ryan Unger 80 goals, 48 assists, 208 points

2. Peter Schreiber 69 goals, 27 assists, 165 points

3. Brian Nord 64 goals, 27 assists, 155 points

4. Steve Dziatkiewicz 53 goals, 26 assists, 132 points

5. Matt Sumner 35 goals, 33 assists, 103 points

6. Robin Dorschner 30 goals, 42 assists, 102 points

7. Pat Goolsby 37 goals, 18 assists, 92 points

8. John Vojta 32 goals, 27 assists, 91 points

9. Joel Rockemann 31 goals, 28 assists, 90 points

10. Trevor Hess 31 goals, 22 assists, 84 points

Brian Nord 2007 Offensive Player of the Year (pictured right)

Top 10 All Time Leading Scorers

Outstanding performers

Featured Alumnus: Jason Papp

During his CUW career Jason (pictured below) established himself as one of the Falcons all time soccer greats. In 1995 Jason was voted All Conference and in 1996, the year the team registered a school record 18 victories, Jason was All Conference, Conference Player of the Year, All Region and Second Team NAIA All America. He finished his brilliant two year career with 26 goals and 12 assists.

Since his graduation from Concordia, Jason has worked as a Construction Foreman for a landscape company in Menomonee Falls. He started this line of work as a summer job while in college, just loved being outside and working with his hands, so he made a career out of landscape construction.

In August 2004, Jason married Katie, a nurse at Children’s Hospital and moved into a house in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. The couple does not have any children yet, but they do have a 9 year old dog named Marley.

Jason still plays soccer for an over-30 team in Milwaukee and enjoys competing against many of the same guys he faced while at CUW. After the games are finished, Jason loves reminiscing about the good old days of college life and Falcon soccer.

NAC ConferenceThe newly-formed Northern Athletics Conference began its first season of competition in the fall of 2006. The NAC consists

of 13 colleges and universities from the shared-border states of Illinois and Wisconsin. Many have shared traditional

rivalries dating back to the NAC’s predecessor conferences, the Lake Michigan Conference and the Northern Illinois-Iowa

Conference. Charter members include: Alverno College, Aurora University, Benedictine University, Concordia University

Chicago, Concordia University Wisconsin, Dominican University, Edgewood College, Lakeland College, Maranatha Baptist

Bible College, Marian University, Rockford College and Wisconsin Lutheran College. Milwaukee School of Engineering joined

the NAC in the fall of 2007. The Northern Athletics Conference is the third largest conference in NCAA Division III.

Peter Schreiber2004 All America

2009 REVIEW

Bryan Samuel2010 Captain

Overall, the 2009 Concordia squad registered 12 victories to go along with only four defeats which indicate another very successful soccer season. However, it’s the five ties, three of which came at the end of the conference season that really defined the Falcon’s 2009 performance. According to Coach Saleska, “We defended well all year long but struggled tremendously finding the back of the net and this scoring deficiency really kept us from achieving our objective of becoming conference champion.”

During the first half of the opening match of the season against a talented and veteran Carroll College, it was both weak defending as well as poor finishing that almost doomed the Falcons as the Pioneers jumped out to a three goal lead. “I knew Carroll was going to be tough, stated Coach Saleska, but I was hoping we could stay with them and maybe sneak out a victory at the end. I never anticipated being down by three goals in the first match of the year.” But sophomore midfielders Victor Mendoza and Carl Haynes notched second half goals and freshmen defender Jason Rogers knocked in the tying tally with a mere 27 seconds left in regulation to finish an important 3-3 tie against Carroll, a 2008 NCAA tournament qualifier.

Inconsistent play typified CUW’s early nonconference performance as they lost to North Park 2-1 and tied Carthage 1-1, a game in which Tom Anderson’s goal keeping prowess kept the Falcons in the match. The men’s team then began to demonstrate their potential as they defeated Ripon 3-2 on Dan Braun’s 25 yard laser in OT and overpowered UW-Superior by a 3-1 tally as freshmen Kyle Sytsma and Zach Lemler combined on key first half goals. A 5-1 victory over Beloit and a nail biting 1-0 win over conference foe Aurora were encouraging performances as senior forward Trevor Hess began to find his goal scoring touch. A 2-1 loss to an exceptional Oshkosh team and a 2-0 victory over North Central brought the Falcon squad’s record to 5-2-2 as it headed into the heart of conference play.

Solid defense along with timely goal scoring helped the Falcons notch four straight conference victories; a 6-1 win over Benedictine with two goals from Bryan Samuel, a 1-0 win over a stubborn Lakeland squad, a 3-0 shutout over rival CU-Chicago, and a 1-0 triumph over Marian, which raised the team’s record to 9-2-2, good enough for a 7th place ranking in the region and a first place position in the conference.

A frustrating loss to Dominican in their next match, however, brought about a renewed sense of urgency to the team. The Falcons knew they had to continue winning if they wanted to remain in the conference championship hunt and qualify the for the conference tournament. A 4-0 shutout over Maranatha, a game in which Jake Streicher handed out three assists, and a tightly contested 1-0 last minute victory over Rockford College kept the Falcons in second place with only three games to play.

But it was at this point in the season that the mid-season injury to All Region forward Trevor Hess really began to impact the Falcon’s performance. Over the next 330 minutes of soccer action the team could only register a single goal as they tied MSOE (0-0), Wisconsin Lutheran (1-1), and Edgewood College (0-0). This disappointing offensive output dropped the men’s squad from second place to fourth place and sent them into the conference tournament against an excellent Aurora side that had been playing outstanding soccer.

After Aurora scored the opening goal of the first tournament match, it looked like the men’s squad was headed for an early exit to the long offseason. But solid team defense and thrilling goals by freshmen Kyle Sytsma and Bryce Bartelt helped the men battle back to a hard fought but satisfying 2-1 victory over the Spartans. A loss to Dominican in the semi-finals of the NAC Tournament ended the season for the Falcons who finished with an overall record of 12-4-5 along with a 7-1-3 record in conference play.

The offseason months, a time in which the team prepares for a new season, is meant for improvement in both strength and skill for the men’s squad. Unfortunately, the summer months were not kind to several key Concordia soccer players. Senior forward Ryan Folgate has been slow to recover from shoulder surgery. Starting midfielders Carl Haynes and Victor Mendoza both sustained knee injuries along with highly touted incoming midfielder Brandyn Banaszynski (Waukesha North HS, WI). Late summer illness and injury to returning midfielder Zach Lemler and captain Bryan Samuel only add to Coach Saleska‘s concerns about the development of this year’s team. Saleska states that he’s never seen anything quite like this rash of preseason setbacks to such key performers. He believes that the early season matches will really be challenging but remains positive about the squad’s potential.

Much of Coach Saleska‘s optimism is based on the large and talented incoming class of freshmen who will be counted on to perform up to expectations. According to Saleska, “There are several freshmen in this year’s recruiting class who have the potential to become impact players. I hope they understand their importance to the team.” Hopefully, this gifted crop of freshmen complements a young but skillful returning group to help generate another successful soccer season.

One of the more intriguing questions that needs to be answered early in training camp is who will replace last year’s Academic All American goal keeper, Tom Anderson. Vying for the starting position will be returning juniors Dan Boklewski who is coming off of rotator cuff surgery and Sam Ische who was Tom’s main backup last season. Saleska is counting on one of these two guys to assert his leadership early in the season and claim this important position. If neither of these two returning goalies is impressive then newcomers Matt McCarthy (South Fork High School HS) or Tyler McEnery (St. Charles North HS) may end up with the majority of playing time once the season begins.

Even though the Falcons graduated one of the best GK’s in the region their defense still should be solid. Returning starters on the back line are central defenders Bryan Samuel and Jason Rogers and outside left back Jake Streicher. In addition, players such as senior captain Phil Dziatkiewicz and junior Justin Wachowiacz have defensive experience and will

challenge for the outside right back vacated by three year starter Frank Cole. Coach Saleska remains convinced that sophomore Tyler Harris has the aggressiveness, tenacity, and work rate to become an excellent collegiate defender. Joining this deep defensive group in the battle for playing time are newcomers Jacob Pope (Muskego HS), Jordan Gonzales (Menomonee Falls HS), Collin Taylor (Plainfield South HS), Andrew Mackenzie (Gordon Technical High), Michael Schraufnagel (Winnebago Lutheran Academy), and Jon Neulreich (Grafton HS).

Another positive aspect of this year’s squad is the return of an experienced midfield that graduated only one starter. The team is counting on the continued skillful play from junior Victor Mendoza, and sophomores Zach Lemler and Kyle Sytsma who developed into one of the most effective and efficient midfields in the school’s history. Saleska believes that players such as Jim Kroll and Arturo Vera along with newcomers such as Blake Edler (St. Charles Lutheran HS), Tyler Hess (Arrowhead HS), Jack Rathe (Lake Zurich HS, and Cesar Martinez (Tenor High) have the ability to help replace the strength and experience of departing defensive midfielder Dan Braun.

Perhaps the biggest question mark for the 2010 squad is who will replace four year starting forward Trevor Hess who earned All Region status and ended up ranked 10th in career scoring. Once Trevor was injured midseason, the Falcon scoring ability dropped dramatically. Coach Saleska made it a recruiting priority to find one or more forwards who have the ability to score goals at the collegiate level. Competing for playing time up front are returners Ryan Folgate, Enrique Alvarado, and Tim Thomack along with newcomers Miguel Frias (Thomas More HS), Brian Griffin (Arrowhead HS), Chris Rakos (Rockford Lutheran HS) and Enzo Berrini (Lockport East HS). According to Coach Saleska, if the Falcons can find one or two players who can create their own shot and find the back of the net on a consistent basis they again will have a solid team that should be able to compete in the much improved Northern Athletics Conference.

2010 PREVIEW

Phillip Dziatkiewicz2010 Captian

2010FALCONS

Ryan Folgate

Cesar MartinezMilwaukee, WITenor High School

Tyler McEnerySaint Charles, ILSaint Charles North High School

MacKenzie, AndrewChicago, ILGordon Technical High School

Miguelangel FriasMilwaukee, WIThomas More High School

Michael SchraufnagelBrownsville, WIWinnebago Lutheran Academy

Blake EdlerSaint Charles, MOLutheran High School St. Charles

Collin TaylorPlainfield, ILPlainfield South High School

Christopher RakosCaledonia, ILRockford Lutheran High School

Jacob PopeMuskego, WIMuskego High School

Brandyn BanaszynskiPewaukee, WIWaukesha High School North

Matthew McCarthyStuart, FLSouth Fork High School

Enzo Berrini Jr.Bolingbrook, ILLockport East High School

Freshmen

FRESHMEN

Tyler HessHartland, WIArrowhead High School

Jonathan NeulreichGrafton, WIGrafton High School

Jack RatheDeer Park, ILLake Zurich High School

Brian GriffinSussex, WIArrowhead High School

Jordan GonzalesMenomonee Falls, WIMenomonee Falls High School

Jason RogersGlendale, WINicolet High School

James KrollElmhurst, ILYork Community High School

Kyle SytsmaAntioch, ILAntioch Community High School

Zach LemlerWest Bend, WIWest Bend East High School

Tyler HarrisDe Pere, WIDe Pere High School

Arturo VeraChicago, ILWilliam H. Taft High School

SOPHMORES

Victor MendozaMt Prospect, ILSaint Viator High School

Enrique AlvaradoElgin, ILCentral High School

Samuel IscheMenomonee Falls, WIMenomonee Falls High School

Carl HaynesSpringfield, ILSpringfield Lutheran High School

Justin WachowiaczMilwaukee, WINathan Hale High School

Jacob StreicherWest Allis, WINathan Hale High School

Bryan SamuelBrookfield, WICatholic Memorial High School

Daniel BoklewskiCarol Stream, ILGlenbard North High School

Phillip DziatkiewiczOconomowoc, WIOconomowoc High School

Timothy Thomack Litchfield, ILLitchfield High School

Ryan FolgateAustin, TXConcordia Academy

Trevor TimmFlorissant, MOLutheran North High School

SENIORS

JUNIORS

Jason enters his seventh year as a collegiate coach at CUW with a wealth of playing and coaching experience. He played high school soccer for Pius and collegiate soccer for UW-Milwaukee. After turning professional, Jason played goal keeper for the Chicago Power, the Chicago Stingers, the Milwaukee Wave and the Milwaukee Rampage. He enjoyed the mental and physical challenge of the goalkeeper position and benefited from the experience of competing against the best players in the Midwest on a day-to-day basis. The lessons he learned about goal keeping from his professional training should benefit him greatly as he pursues a coaching career.

Jason’s coaching experience includes summer camp work with the Concordia Soccer Academy, the Milwaukee Wave camps, the UW-Parkside camps, and the Vogelsinger camps. He also has coached various club teams such as the Northstars U-17 and New Berlin SC and high school soccer teams such as Cedarburg and Brookfield.

According to Coach Saleska, Jason has been a significant addition to the coaching staff. Coach Burdge has provided the knowledge, experience, consistency, and stability that the program has been looking for in an assistant coach for several years.

Coach Tom Saleska came to Concordia in 1993 after a successful 14-year high school coaching career in which his teams won several conference, district, regional, and even a state championship in 1987. During his 17-year tenure at Concordia, the Falcons have won six Lake Michigan Conference championships, three conference tournament championships, and have earned an NCAA tournament appearance in two of the previous seven seasons. Included in Saleska’s list of accomplishments are a USSF National Coaching License, a Michigan High School State Championship, a Michigan State Coach of the Year award in 1987, and Lake Michigan Conference Coach of the Year in 1997, 2002, and 2004. His overall coaching record of 372-158-43 includes 221 collegiate victories at Concordia. Concordia’s soccer program also has an excellent reputation around the central part of the country, demonstrated by its regional ranking in the coaches’ poll in seven of the past eleven seasons.

During his 31-year career, Saleska has coached a variety of recreational, club, high school, and collegiate teams. One of the main reasons for this coaching diversity is that Tom has been able to coach many of the teams for which his two sons, John (Concordia graduate) and James (Concordia graduate), have played. He also provided plenty of coaching advice to his daughter, Jenna (Concordia junior), who played high school soccer. Tom and his wife Vanessa recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.

Along with coaching, Tom also teaches at Concordia and was promoted to the rank of Full Professor. In the past 17 years Tom has taught two different biology courses, one life science course, a zoology course, a soccer coaching course and a secondary methods course.

JASON BURDGE / Assistant Coach

TOM SALESKA / Head Coach

Tom Saleska Career Coaching Record

1993 4-11-2

1994 10-6-3

1995 13-8-0

1996 18-4-0 LMC Champion

1997 16-4-0 LMC Champion/LMC Tournament Champion

1998 16-4-1 LMC Tournament Champion

1999 14-6-0 LMC Champion

2000 10-9-0

2001 14-3-2

2002 17-4-2 LMC Champion, NCAA Tournament, At Large

2003 14-7-1 LMC Champion/LMC Tournament Champion, NCAA Tournament

2004 15-4-1 LMC Champion/LMC Tournament Final

2005 11-5-5 LMC Tournament Final

2006 13-5-4 NAC Tournament Final

2007 12-7-1

2008 12-7-1

2009 12-4-5

High School 151-60-15

College 221-98-28

Overall 372-158-43

2010 Spring Graduates Tom Saleska Head Coach

Jason BurdgeAssistant Coach

International Experiences

January, 1999 – Rio De Janeiro, BrazilIn January of 1999, the men’s soccer team traveled to Rio De Janeiro for a 10 day South American adventure. During the trip, the team visited sites such as Christo Redentor, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Maracana (the world’s largest soccer stadium), and relaxed on the world renown Copa Cabana beach. Along with the cultural experience, the men’s soccer squad played four matches against quality competition.

August, 2002 – Germany & Holland In the summer of 2002, the Falcons completed an eleven-day excursion to Holland and Germany. This unique educational experience included both famous cultural sites along with friendly matches against soccer clubs from the two countries. During their visit to the fabulous Ajax stadium, the home field of Amsterdam’s top professional soccer club, American national team player John O’Brien met the team for an impromptu photo session.

August, 2005 – Germany, Austria, Switzerland & ItalyFor a preseason learning and soccer training experience the men’s and women’s soccer teams traveled to Europe for ten action packed days of sightseeing and soccer playing. In Germany, the student/athletes visited Dachau prison camp, toured the city of Munich on bikes, dined at the famous Hofbrau Haus, attended a professional soccer match and played soccer against the local club, TSV Pfersee. After experiencing Germany, the teams traveled to Salzburg, Austria where they toured the Schloss Hohensalzburg, the largest preserved fortress in central Europe, played a soccer match against USC Eugendorf, and visited the Durrnberg salt mines. At the end of the trip, the party traveled to Milan, Italy for a guided tour of the historic city that included a visit to DaVinci’s “Last Supper” located in the refectory of the Church of Santa Maria Della Grazie.

May 2009 – Barcelona, SpainIn May, 2009 the men’s soccer team traveled to Barcelona, Spain for an eight day European soccer and cultural experience. The team stayed in a resort hotel located on the beach of the Mediterranean Sea and spent considerable time enjoying the sunny Spanish environment. Each day the players traveled to memorable locations such as the world famous cathedral La Sagrada Familia (the only cathedral in Europe still under construction), Tossa De Mar, a quaint and cozy resort village, and the Ramblas, a unique shopping district in the heart of Barcelona where the Falcons enjoyed hunting for souvenirs. Without question, the highlight of the trip came when the team visited Nou Camp Stadium and watched FC Barcelona play Osasuana from field-level seats. The energy and passion displayed by the Barcelona fans was overwhelming and unforgettable.

Along with the daily cultural experiences, the Falcon squad also was able to play against some of the most talented soccer teams they have ever witnessed. The Spanish club players who were fine tuned for their league playoffs put on a dazzling display of soccer technique. Even though the men’s team was able to win only a single match during the tour, the young players gained valuable experience for seasons to come.

According to Coach Saleska, “The entire tour was unbelievably successful. It was a fabulous learning experience and I think the players will remember the sights and sounds of the Barcelona area for the rest of their lives. They played soccer against incredible competition which will only help them in their future soccer careers. The Concordia soccer program tries to provide a meaningful and memorable international experience every three or four years but this trip to Spain will be difficult to match.”