Pictured from left to right: Mike Oseguera (LMU GK Coach and former Servite Coach), Garrett Amador ’16 (LMU), Joe LaCasto ’15 (UNC Asheville), Keith Murphy ’15.
Servite alumni and members of the 2015 CIF Championship team, Keith Murphy ’15, Joe LaCasto ’15 and Garrett Amador ’16 travelled to Costa Rica earlier this summer with their respective college teams for what they call, a trip of a lifetime. The trip was arranged to give the players experience with international competition, provide a unique opportunity for team bonding and immerse the teams in Costa Rican culture.
Both schools detailed their experiences with blog posts on their websites.
For LMU, Amador and Murphy both wrote entries. Amador detailed the time they got to spend with kids at a local elementary school in Portegolpe teaching them soccer drills. He talked about the initial difficulties that arose due to the language barrier but went on to say that they quickly picked up some phrases that helped them communicate with the kids. They finished their day with a tour of the school were able to donate some equipment and supplies in an experience that Amador called humbling.
In Murphy’s entry, he discussed their adventure in the city of Guancaste. From exploring the city on land to their catamaran ride at sunset, the Lions players got a great taste of what the city had to offer. Read more about their experience here.
The Lions also went 4-0 on the trip outscoring their opponents 11-2. Amador started two games while Murphy, who normally plays goalkeeper, got in on the action starting the last game at forward and scoring a goal for the Lions!
As for Joe LaCasto and UNC Asheville, the focus of the trip was similar. LaCasto started two games for the Bulldogs while playing in all four and scoring three goals.
He also posted a blog entry in which he talked about the second day of their trip when they visited Costa Rica’s national team stadium then played soccer with local kids in the area before their first match of the trip. For more on their trip visit the UNC website here.
Joined by recent Servite graduate Tim Burke ’17, Murphy, Amador and the LMU Lions will start their 2017 season August 16th at home vs. CSU Bakersfield while LaCasto and the Bulldogs open the season August 17th vs. Wright State.
