Aug. 18, 2001

Souzas, Brazil -

Friday, Aug. 17, 2001
We began our trip in Atlanta where we took a short flight to Houston and then a ten minute break till our flight at 8 p.m. for Sao Paulo Brazil. We landed in Brazil at 8:30 a.m. From the airport we went to the campground at Souzas and explored the area. It is beautiful, the weather is wonderful (about 65 degrees) and it is very peaceful. We had a short training session, our first with the freshman. It was also their first with the coaches! It went well and we had a good time getting our legs back after the long trip below the equator. After that we had a relaxing evening and dinner of fish, rice, beans and a traditional Brazilian dessert. We finished the evening with Brazilian "tea and cookies" at 10 p.m. and then turned in for some much needed rest.
Sara and Carrie

Saturday, Aug. 18, 2001
Today we left for Campinas at 8:30 a.m. to go to our host club, Guarani FC. Upon arrival we split into two teams and played a double header against two of the Guarani women's teams. One half of the squad fell 1-0 and the other half fell 3-0. Despite the scores things went well and we began adjusting to each other. After the games, the Guarani Futbol Club hosted us for lunch, a tour of their facility and a game. We were able to watch the 17-20 year old Guarani Junior team play their cross-town rivals, Ponte Preta. It was an eventful game. We met many of the local citizens from Campinas and witnessed one of the intense rivalries that exist in the world of Brazilian soccer. Overall, it was a good beginning to our preseason!
See you all soon,
Sara and Carrie.

Sunday, Aug. 19, 2001
Today we had another early morning. We were up and at em' around 7:30 a.m. We had another delicious breakfast of rolls, jam, meat and cheese with donuts and warm milk chocolate... really good! We boarded the bus after breakfast and headed to Americana where we spent the morning sight seeing. We learned that the city was actually founded by Southerners from the US who were upset at the end of slavery and came to Brazil where it was still legal. Here they founded their own city and started plantations for cotton and watermelon. We also visited the Americana zoo where we say monkeys, hippos, lions, tigers and more. Then the Americana Club hosted us for a lunch consisting of chicken, rice, beans and sausage. Around 3 p.m. we played our first match of the day. We defeated the Odessa Club 5-0. The other half of our team defeated the Americana Club 1-0. We played much better today and could tell we were getting our legs back. Freshman Lindsay Shanks of Indiana scored the first goal of our trip today. All of the freshman played well and it looks like we might just keep them around after all! We will talk to you again tomorrow.
Sara and Carrie

Monday, Aug. 20, 2001
Today began with an early 8 a.m. training session. The midfielders and defenders worked on zonal defense and the strikers and keepers worked on finishing. For the returners it was a recap of the spring, but, for the freshmen it was their first session (glad not to be a freshman anymore!) After the session we showered and headed to the Bodrini Children's Cancer hospital. It is a hospital for cancer and leukemia patients from birth to 18 years old. It was a wonderful place where 80% of the patients do not pay for treatment due to financial struggles. The hospital is run off of donations and volunteer efforts but is as nice as any hospital in the US. We played with some of the children, Hayley (Kolb) even dressed in a cow costume for them and then gave them Samford Soccer t-shirts and some candy. It was a very rewarding experience. After we left the hospital it was off to the mall. There we did some serious damage! The greatest damage was done by Christa (Jones)... what a shopping phenom! Overall it was just another wonderful day in Brazil!
See you all soon,
Carrie and Sara

Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2001
Today was a rare treat... we got to sleep in to 8:30 a.m.! Everyone was very excited to have the chance to catch some extra sleep. Breakfast this morning consisted of a traditional breakfast called Romeo and Juliet. It is a fruit and cheese combination eaten with fresh bread. After breakfast we had a short training session and then a light lunch here at the campground. After lunch we walked into town and went to the super mercado. There we found tons of Brazilian tea, chocolate, coffee and soft drinks. Some of which may even make it home for our families! In the afternoon we went to Motorola for our games. Our first game was against the Brazilian Women's Futsal Champions from Guarani. Our split squad had a tough game against Guarani but still fell 3-0. The second game of the day was against the Motorola team. In that game we played much better and the other half of the team won 4-1. Freshman Keala Ryan got the game-winning goal. Hayley Kolb scored two goals in the win and Freshman Kathy Nichols scored the other. The coaches have moved alot of people around and we are trying a lot of new things down here. Everyone seems to be playing much better together and it looks like we might be ready for our opener against A&M after all!
Carrie and Sara

Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2001
Today was another early morning with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and leaving the campground by 8:30 a.m. for Jundiai. Breakfast included a little something different today. Another new spread, this one called Doce De Leche (maybe mispelled) and is like a carmel peanut butter...very sweet but very good. After a one-hour bus ride to Jundiai we were the guests of the local television station. We were celebrities and the evening news did a story on us and our visit. Coach Kouns was interviewed and so was Freshman Lindsey Bosshardt. They also interviewed two girls from our host club (Guarani) who have accompanied us for most of our trip. When we finished at the television station we were given a tour of the Jundiai soccer stadium. They just won the second division championship in Brazil and next year will be in the top division. Needless to say, the visit included having pictures taken with many of the male players!!! Our lunch today was provided at the Jundiai country club and that was really neat. The game today was a festive event for the local citizens. There was music, there was dancing and there were lots of fans. The game ended with us taking the victory 2-0. Freshman Lisa Stucki scored the game winning goal today and Susan Polhemus scored the goal to seal the win. Although we are a bit tired it is still a great time to be sure.
All the best,
Sara and Carrie

Thursday, Aug. 23, 2001
This morning we woke to the sound of rain! After a six-week draught it has rained for two days now... and today that means the coaches are giving us the morning off! Most of the team lounged around and then walked to town in the rain to get gifts for our friends and families. Our group was led through the downpour by the fearless Coach Copham, who along with Christa Jones, spearheads all shopping expeditions. After shopping we ate lunch and then boarded the bus for Motorola. During a very annoying light rain half of our squad fell to another Motorola team 2-0. However, our spirits were raised when in the second game the other half of our squad handed the oldest Guarani team, who represented Brazil in the South American Championships in Chile this year, their first loss in over a year by a score of 2-1. Both goals today were scored by freshman. Heidi Kearns scored our first goal to tie the game up and then freshman Lindsay Shanks scored with less than five minutes remaining to take the win. On our way home we stopped at Carrefour, a store about three times the size of super Wal-Mart...it was BIG! After shopping we returned to the campground in Souzas for yet another relaxing evening. Tomorrow is our last full day here and we will head to the beach at Santos at 7am. We will have a ton of things to tell you on Sunday when we get in. Look forward to it!
Love,
Carrie and Sarah

Friday, Aug. 24, 2001
It was an early morning... breakfast at 6:30a.m.!!! After breakfast we boarded our bus with our trusty driver, Oswaldo, and drove 3.5 hours to Santos. Due to traffic in Sao Paulo we arrived at the field five minutes before we were set to play. Because the game was being televised by two television stations, one covers four South American countries, we were not allowed to move the starting time back and had to play five minutes off the bus! The first half was very sluggish and the other team put on a show for the television cameras. Coach Kouns had to give three interviews during the course of the game and there was not a word of English spoken by any of the reporters. After falling behind 1-0 we had a great comeback. With 25 minutes left in the game a great passing combination from Heidi (Kearns), (Christina) Dortch, Hayley (Kolb) and (Lisa) Stucki ended up at Lindsay Shanks feet where she tied the score at 1-1. Just one minute later we earned a free kick and Lisa Stucki hit a 35-yard free kick that ended up on Christina Dortch's head and beat the keeper for the game winner. Final score Samford 2 and Santos 1. After the game it was off to lunch and a tour of Santos stadium. Santos is the home club of the great Pele. We were their guests and visited the field, trophy room and store. We also had our picture taken with a player from Santos who plays for the Brazilian National team (but we can not begin to spell his name). We ended our day in Santos with an hour trip to the beach. Everyone enjoyed walking on the beach and drinking fresh fruit drinks. We also watched tons of beach soccer and Rebecca Kent even got some of the guys to let her take a few shots on their goal. It was a very full last day, but, a great one in terms of the win and the experiences despite how tired we are.
See everyone soon,
Carrie and Sara