Every three summers, the Muhlenberg women’s soccer team spends 12 days overseas, combining sightseeing with competition against top club teams.

The Mules take a break from training for a photo in beautiful Bellagio, Italy. The team on the back of a boat during a cruise down the Rhine River in Germany. The Mules in front of San Siro Stadium, home of AC Milan and Inter Milan FC in Milan, Italy.

Italy/Germany/Netherlands 2006 In 2006, the Mules traveled to Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. They practiced with two different sets of Italian trainers (with a translator) and played three games and a one-day tournament against German, Dutch and Belgian opponents. They were also able to tour the Lake Como area, Milan, Verona and Venice in Italy; Aachen, Germany; and Amsterdam and Maastricht in the Netherlands. The Mules visited Roman ruins as part of their trip to Italy and Switzerland. Group shot in front of a windmill in historic Holland.

Scotland/England 2003 Returning players on the men’s and women’s soccer teams traveled to Scotland and England in August 2003. The teams trained, played matches and did plenty of sightseeing. Stops along the way included St. Andrews, Stirling, Edinburgh, London, Southport, Manchester, Liverpool, Oxford, and Windsor. The teams visited castles, universities, tourist attractions, and, of course, some of Britain’s most famous soccer stadiums for tours and to watch matches. The teams held their own in exhibition matches against British teams. The teams also got some off-the-field preparation for the season. Together 24 hours a day, the players got a chance to bond with one another and build team chemistry.

The players and coaches gather for a group photo in Southport. The players pose with a statue of Scottish hero William Wallace at the Wallace Monument.