The Carleton women’s soccer team returned home on a high note after completing a successful pre-season stint in Liverpool, England.
“The trip was excellent,” said Ravens head coach Alex McNutt. “We really just bonded on and off the field, and it was a prefect experience.”
The team stayed in the residence halls at the University of Liverpool during their stay, and held their training camp there as well with practices twice a day, according to McNutt.
Despite facing some elite competition, the Ravens finished their four exhibition games with a 3-1 record. They team beat Preston North End, the reserves for the Blackburn Rovers, and Manchester United’s centre of excellence squad, comprising some of the nation’s top under-17 girls. Carleton’s lone loss came at the hands of the Everton reserves.
“It was very exciting for the girls to face such competition,” McNutt said. “They’ve seen the names of these teams on T.V., so for them to get the chance to play against these teams was something special.”
McNutt said that the team got to play at “immaculate” facilities during their trip and had the chance to do some sight-seeing to experience the culture of English football, highlighted by trips to watch a women’s Super League match and the home opener for the men’s Manchester United.
“The culture of football over there is so different and that is part of the reason why I wanted them to go over there,” he said. “I wanted the girls to see the passion that people have for their teams, which is so different than here.”
The team returned from their English experience in late August and continues to practice for the start of their 2012 campaign. Carleton begins regular season play at home Sep. 1 against the University of Toronto, followed by a meeting with Ryerson the following afternoon.
McNutt said he and the girls were surprised with how well they played in their exhibition games, and he said he hopes that they can build off the great experience and use it to have a successful season.
“I think I have a really strong squad,” he said. “I guess we weren’t expecting to do so well over there winning three and only losing one. If [his players] do everything right and it works out this season I think we can do really well.”
