The Lebanon Valley College field hockey team shared an incredible experience this summer, as the program traveled to Italy to compete and learn about the country's lifestyle and history.

The squad competed against three different Italian clubs; Cus Pisa Hockey, Butterfly Hockey, and Lazio Hockey in exhibition games, and toured Perugia, Florence, Siena, Greve, and Rome.

LVC sophomore midfielder Danika Setlock checked Italy off of her travel list after already traveling to Peru and Spain with her high school and then traveling to France and England with family. She says traveling as a student-athlete felt completely different from the international trips she took with her school as well as her family.

"I wasn't just exploring a new country, I was doing it with a tight-knit group of teammates who feel like family," Setlock explained. "Playing overseas added a whole new layer to the experience. Sightseeing is amazing, but stepping onto a field in another country, playing a sport that's so deeply rooted in their culture, made me feel connected in a way tourism never could."

The trip first started off in Perugia, the capital of Umbria, where they got to explore the vibrant culture during a walking tour along with a cooking class later in the day. On the following day they departed to Greve, getting the chance to see the scenic landscapes of Tuscany, where they got to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa followed by taking the field for their first game against Cus Pisa Hockey.

"This experience was incredible," stated sophomore forward, Lilah Shaub. "I feel like I got to build deeper and more personal connections with the team while being abroad. We also had the chance to talk to the Cus Pisa players and see into their experiences and life with field hockey and school in Italy."

LVC then got to visit the old town of Siena before arriving in Rome to face Butterfly Hockey in their second exhibition match of the trip. Senior forward Claire Weidenhammer enjoyed playing against Butterfly Hockey stating that it was a great challenge for LVC.

"Sienna was such a beautiful town and it was amazing to get the chance to spend the day there learning about the connections between the neighborhoods and the popular horse race, Palio di Sienna," Weidenhammer mentioned. "Getting to play against Butterfly Hockey was an incredible experience with how skilled their players were."

The following morning, Lebanon Valley Field Hockey traveled into Rome to have a guided tour of the Roman Forum, Colosseum, and the Palatine Hill. Additionally, the team got to explore the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Campo de' Fiori, and Piazza Navona.

"It was such an amazing experience getting the opportunity to explore the historical sites of Italy and see how their culture and values shape them," Lauren Foster said.

On Lebanon Valley's final full day in Italy, they got to visit the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica before they took the field one more time to have their last friendly match against Lazio Hockey.

"It was an experience I will never forget," stated LVC's forward/midfielder Maggie McAteer. "Playing against Lazio challenged us to adapt to a different style of play and compete against talented athletes from another country. It was exciting to see how the game is played internationally and compare different approaches to the sport."

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