Aaron Johnson – Sports Editor
For most students, traveling a great distance to get an education is pretty normal. Southern Connecticut State University alone has students that hail from all parts of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. But a group of students have come to New Haven from much farther.
“One of the reasons I came to the U.S. was to learn English because in Spain I didn’t have time,” said Women’s Soccer Player Victoria Conde.
Conde, from Madrid, Spain, is just one of several Southern Connecticut athletes that have come from overseas to play and attend the university. Conde said her coming to the United States to play soccer is like living a true life American dream.
“The other reason is because I’ve always wanted to come here and live,” she said. “We call it the American dream, playing soccer and studying at university.”
Along with Conde, the women’s team has two other players that are from overseas in senior Hannah Spreckley from York, England and freshman Betti Worth from Bolton, England. Worth said coming to the U.S. was one of the toughest things she has ever done.
“It was the most stressful thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Worth said. “I can’t really explain how hard it was. I had only nine months to get all my paperwork. Then I had to get my Visa, then the NCAA eligibility, then SATs. It was all pretty stressful.”
All the athletes have one thing in common; the heavy hearts of leaving behind family and friends for an opportunity to better not only their lives, but also trying to play soccer at the highest level possible.
“It’s the first time away from family so of course it’s tough and learning another language and getting used to speaking it every day. But you pick it up quickly,” said Sebastian Brems of the men’s soccer team.
Brems hails from Odense, Denmark and is a one of six foreign players for Coach Tom Lang. Despite the language barrier that many of the athletes tend to face, they are still able to feel at home here in the states. Worth said it is mostly because of the bond that the teammates share.
“It’s really hard to leave your family and friends,” she said. “It’s really hard but because of soccer and I have really good friends here that help me get through that. You’re so busy being a student-athlete you don’t really have time to be homesick.”
While the athletes focus on the season and the bond of their teammates and friends, they are able to get through not only the season but also the difficulties that come from living away from loved one. Conde said when she first told her parents that she wanted to come to America to play soccer they were supportive, but understood that it was a long shot.
“When I told them that I wanted to come here they told me okay but they didn’t think it was going to happen,” she said. “I have never done something like this. They are in Spain and they are really proud of me. They know that I am working hard to improve my English. They are proud but they are also sad because I’m not there. But they are happy too because they know that I am happy.”
All the athletes that come from other countries to play at Southern have a special bond between each other, their teammates, and of course their coaches, who help them all get to this point.
“To me I’ve had an opportunity of a lifetime,” Worth said. “Every day I appreciate what I’ve been offered and to me it’s a little unreal.”
Photo Credit: Hannah Spreckley
George Thomas
