AUGUST 6, 2008
KING’S MEN’S SOCCER TEAM SET FOR SUMMER EUROPEAN TOUR
(Team to visit Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic)
WILKES-BARRE -- The King’s College men’s soccer team, which finished
second in the 2007 Freedom Conference Tournament, will look to prepare
for a 2008 title run when the Monarchs head to Europe for a 10-day trip
that involves training, sight-seeing, and three games against European
club teams.. The trip was organized by King’s third-year head coach Mark
Bassett and Harvard Sports International Tours.
On Thursday, August 7, the Monarch soccer team will be depart from JFK
International Airport to begin its trip to the Czech Republic, Germany,
and Austria.
Upon reaching Prague, Czech Republic, the Monarchs will enjoy three days
of sightseeing and training beginning August 8. On August 10, the team
will attend a professional match in Prague between FK Viktoria Zizkov
and Teplice at Viktorisa Zizkow Stadium at 10:15 a.m. King’s will then
play its first game August 11 against Sparta Prague at 5:00 p.m. in
Strahov Stadium.
After a day of traveling and sightseeing in Regensburg, Germany, the
Monarchs will arrive in Salzburg, Austria on August 13 to visit the
Hohensalzburg Fortress.
On August 14, King’s will play its second game of the tour in Salzburg
when the Monarchs face PSV Salzburg at 6:30 p.m. The Monarchs will then
depart for a trip to Munich, Germany.
On August 16, King’s will be in Dachau, Germany to attend a professional
men’s game between FC Bayern Muchen II and Dynamo Dresden at Stadium
Grunwald at 2:00 p.m. Following the game, the Monarchs will remain at
the stadium where the team will play its final game, a 7:00 p.m.
contest, against TSV Ebersberg.
The trip includes a whitewater rafting trip through the Austrian Alps; a
trip to the Prague Castle, the Konopiste Castle, and the Hohensalzburg
Fortress, a tour of the Dachau Concentration camp, and a tour the home
of Mozart.
“Many American soccer players only get to experience European
professional soccer on television, but this trip provides our players
with an opportunity to compete with and watch soccer players of an elite
level,” Bassett stated. “ This type of tour has become a tradition of
many top collegiate soccer programs throughout the United States over
the past 20 years, and has become a staple in many of the programs’
soccer cultures. We have started to develop its own soccer culture at
King’s and I believe this trip creates a unique experience, if not a
once in a life time experience, that can only be achieved within the
collegiate atmosphere. My hope is that when the players return from the
trip they not only remember the soccer, but the camaraderie between
teammates and opponents and the amazing sights. We also feel this trip
will help us prepare for our upcoming season and get us a jump start on
the season.”
King’s players who will be making the trip include seniors Ryan Symons,
Cameron Audette, Nate Buckwalter, Mark Timko, Mike Buckwash, and Paul
Racz. Monarch juniors include Patrick McCarthy, Brian McElroy, Brian
Haldeman, Grant Parsons, Alex Henery, and Rich Melber. Sophomores
includes Dan Horn, Andrew Neyer, Dan Carle, Dan Kosydar, Josh Stocker,
Dan Mortenson, and Sam Kressler.
