GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University women’s soccer team will travel to Costa Rica before the start of the 2009 season. The Profs’ 10-day excursion, August 9-18, includes four exhibition games.

The women’s soccer team will tour the city of San Jose and visit the hot water springs. The players and coaches will go white water rafting and take a canopy zip line tour. In addition, they will visit a children’s community center that cares for and educates 200 low-income children between the ages of one-12 years old. It is the second time that Rowan has traveled to Costa Rica. In 2005, the women’s soccer team played four games on the 10-day trip.

"We are definitely looking forward to going back to Costa Rica in August,” said head coach Scott Leacott. “Costa Rica Soccer Tours is a first class operation and I heard it is even better than when we went the last time in 2005.”

“The competition in Costa Rica is excellent,” Leacott stated. “We will be playing first division professional teams, loaded with national team players.”

The first three days the women’s soccer team will stay in San Jose. Rowan’s first game is on Monday, August 10 against Arenal. The second contest versus La Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales (UCEM) Alajuela is on Tuesday, August 11. The women’s soccer team will spend the next two days in San Carlos where they will play San Carlos on Wednesday, August 12. The group departs for Pacific Beach on Friday, August 14. Rowan’s final game is against Carrillo on Sunday, August 16. The squad returns to San Jose the next day and departs for Glassboro on Tuesday, August 18.

“Not only is it a great bonding experience for our student-athletes, we will have the opportunity to play four games and experience the Costa Rican culture,” continued Leacott. “We will travel throughout the country and experience city life, the rainforest and the beach. We will also visit a children’s community center for a service project when we are there."

"We try and give the best experience we possibly can give to our student-athletes and this trip is a part of that experience. Our players from 2005 are still talking about the time they spent in Costa Rica and that's what we hope will happen on this trip."

In 2005, Rowan returned from Costa Rica with a 1-2-1 exhibition record. UCEM edged the Profs, 2-1 in the first game. Rowan tied San Jose, 4-4 and won 4-2 over San Carlos. In the final game, Saprissa defeated Rowan, 11-2.