Game 5, Barcelona, and the Trip Home

After Paul told us another fifteen minutes, after the fifteen minute warning had been given fifteen minutes prior to that, the boys were anxious to exit the bus and hit the pitch running.  We had climbed a mountain on a winding road somewhere between Lloret de Mar and Barcelona to a remote resort. Needless to say, there were a couple setbacks along the way.  We encountered a bit of construction blocking our exit from the highway, and someone (Jack) forgot their computer at the hotel which required us to back track twenty minutes after our departure.  Travel to the match against the Norwegian side was a bit more than brief however, we were able to take in some of the beauty that the Spanish country-side provided.
Our performance against Reus did not produce the result that the squad desired; we were ready to finish on a good note.  We arrived at the pitch behind schedule pushing us into an abbreviated warm-up.  Even with all the distractions the boys' came out with a fire and produced quality opportunities from the start.  Big Ben Maurey put in a magnificent 90 minutes, while his defensive counterpart Giant Eric Robertson helped SKS to his first shut out of the trip.  Kevin Gavey and Daniel Taylor emerged as two rising stars over the course of the trip and continued that trend till' the final whistle.
This match was the most comparable to a collegiate competition that we had played.  It was physical, filled with battles for head balls, hard tackling, and through balls to the corners of the pitch.  But in short moments we were able to settle the game and play our style with relative ease.  Big Ben was able to make his print on the game putting us up 1.  From that point on the game became even more physical and less appealing to watch, however the boys' rose to the challenge and finished the game.  We left the pitch with our heads held high putting an exclamation point on the playing portion of our trip.
The guys' were so excited to get back to Barcelona they respectfully declined a shower and immediately boarded the bus willing to leave behind anyone (Pepe) who was not moving fast enough.  So there we were, Brown Men's Soccer in Spain, sweaty, stinky, but no one cared because we were going to see the current club champions tonight...Barce!

We arrived at the hotel in Barcelona shortly.  As a staff we checked rooms to make sure no computers were left behind.  Some needed more help than others...Matt Culp being one of them.  After the bag check we were off to roam Las Ramblas.  Andy and I were fortunate enough to take a detour out to the Sacred Heart Church.  It was the most amazing piece of architecture and art I have ever laid eyes upon; something I will never forget.  Last minute shopping was completed, we grabbed some authentic Spanish grub, and were ready for the match.

The Boys' were ecstatic.  The atmosphere was electrifying.  100,000 fans crammed into a beautiful stadium to see Barcelona and recognize Messi for becoming the top scorer in club history.  The opponent: Biblao, not to shabby either.  The team couldn't stop smiling.  Seeing Messi and co. play was unbelievable.  In a game that is always hard to predict they simply dominate.  The feeling of experiencing everything that we did over the course of ten days is indescribable.

The Morning of departure came quickly.  All of a sudden the trip was over and it was time to get back to reality, classes, studying, fitness, weight lifting sessions and practice.   No more siestas or delectable chocolate-filled croissants for breakfast.  The travel day went without issue.

To those of you who made this trip possible, we cannot thank you enough.  We had an unforgettable experience.  THANK YOU.

Game 4

Don't ever get your laundry done in Europe.  No matter how long your trip is, bring enough clean clothes.  Prepare to do your laundry in the bath tub, wear your clothes in the shower, or make frequent trips to the pool.  Avoid european laundry mats at all costs.
After returning from the laundry mat with our arms full of clothes, and our wallets drained of euros we ecstatically boarded the bus for a trip across the country side.

Most of the guys took this opportunity as a Siesta.  Bodies were sprawled out covering all of the seats and most of the floor.  J-Baum summoned a sleep mask from somewhere in his gear bag and was out before the bus left the curb.  Two hours later it was time for the patented BMS Spain Trip Wake Up Call in which the closest person to the snorers shook them until they arose from their slumber.   A quick snack and the boys' were ready to rock n' roll.  Our fourth game was against C.F. Reus, a Spanish Second B Division team.  We arrived and were pleasantly surprised with a professional welcome, a great locker room, and a fantastic pitch.
As the kick-off approached a local crowd gathered in the stadium.  The field was sprayed and the water gave even more pace to an already flat and fast pitch.  Another moment for the super-seniors to shine, and what an opportunity it was...Some of them with professional aspirations, what better place to get a feel for the pro-game?
From the whistle we knew we were in for a real challenge.  However the group that was victorious against an Atletico side earlier in the week had no fear and stepped up confidently.  For the first twenty we had our moments, moving the ball well and finding a few opportunities on frame.   Rosa made his prescence known early on in the match narrowly missing the near post after beating the keeper.  A make shift back line battled valiantly throughout the first half to be down by only a goal in the closing minutes.  Josh "Weindog" Weiner made three top-class saves keeping us in the game.    However a miscommunication lead to a goal just before the half and we entered the locker room down 2-0.
The second half proved to be much like the first.  Reus was moving the ball quite well and switching it from side to side.  Manella lead the group and kept them organized through communicating the entire match but it just wasn't enough.  In the highlight of the second half: Mandel and Pops combined for a magnificent moment at the top of the box but the post turned the finishing shot aside.  By the end of the match the group was shattered, but also proud to put up a 90 minute fight against a full pro team.

The bus ride back was silent, a mixture of disappointment, shock, and exhaustion.  At dinner we showed our usual signs of bouncing back, it was a delicious meal of steak or chicken, the boys' dined like kings and were off to bed.

Hola! again from Spain,

I hope everyone is doing well back in the US or wherever you are reading this blog. Kevin and I want to start off by telling everyone that we are safe in a beach town called Lloret de Mar, away from all of the riots and violence sweeping the major cities of espana. 

Yesterday, Wednesday the 28th, we woke up early in Madrid. The team felt great after a good win against Atletico Madrid and a fun night watching Real Madrid destroy APOEL. The bus was scheduled to depart at 730 however we didn't leave until 745 because Jack Kuntz thought it would be a good idea to take his hotel key as a souvenir. The bus ride was 7 hours with many people sleeping but a select few "crazies" using it as a time to bond, view the sites, and try to keep others awake. Can't say I wasn't one of those people...Upon arrival in Barca, we had a 30 second turn around before we found ourselves at a training facility nestled in the suburbs of Barca. After an hour session, we were once again showering quickly so we could make dinner at Las Ramblas, a long strip of shops and restaurants downtown. 

We ate dinner as a team at a local buffet, consuming the best soft serve ice cream known to man. After being excused from the buffet, we split up in different directions to shop, eat tapas, watch Barcelona on TV, and enjoy the smells and culture of Spain. After a quick three hours of this, we headed back to the hotel for some much needed rest. 8 hours later, we were up and at em' again...

The next day, Thursday the 29th, we ate yet another fabulous breakfast full of meats, cheeses, bread, pastries, and peach juice. At 10am we departed for the beautiful beach town of Lloret de Mar as mentioned earlier. For all of you California folks, Austin 'raaandy' Mandel likened the last part of the bus ride to driving through the canyons of Los Angeles. Once at the beach, we ate lunch and Jack Kuntz(he seems to be mentioned a lot in this blog) ordered the grandest paella dish filled with live shrimp, crab, and scallops. He ate for about two hours and after we all waited for him to finish, we departed for our match against a physical team from Sweden. 

The pitch was small but the game was a lot like those hard fought battles we all remember at Stevenson Field. After going behind twice, 1-0 and 2-1, Tom Mac dribbled their entire midfield and back line to bang home a nice lefty shot from just inside the 18. The little man from Westchester, NY also scored the first goal on a penalty drawn by big Ben Maurey, who played fantastically all day. Coach praised our effort but we all knew we should have won the game...

That night we were able to explore the small but lively beach town, but many people turned in early to get some shut eye before an early morning of laying on the beach and shopping. More from Friday and the rest of our trip to come...Can't believe it's almost over!

Until next time,

SKS and KPG