LISBON, PORTUGAL - Oneonta women's soccer rising seniors Katie Doherty (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) and Dominique DiOrio (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) took part in an international trip to Portugal through the Beyond Sports program this June. The duo traveled to Lisbon and Porto and competed there, playing three matches against local club teams while also exploring the cities.

The tour is invitation-only with a recommendation from the head coach. Beyond Sports looks to build a roster of 20 collegiate women's soccer athletes for the nine-day trip (June 8-17). Matches were against Seixal Clube, SC Braga, and Real SC, with the squad finishing 2-0-1. "The level of play was very competitive," said DiOrio. "Although we had only had one practice before our first game as a new team, we went undefeated in our time there. We won our first game 5-0 (Katie had an assist), our second 3-1, and our third, we tied 2-2 (I scored our second goal). It was very interesting to see how other players/teams had different styles of play compared to what we do at Oneonta, and we all had to adjust to them."

Off the pitch, Doherty and DiOrio experienced the Portuguese culture in Lisbon and Porto, as well as day trips to Sintra and Obidos. Days consisted of walking tours to learn about the local history, visiting a vineyard, kayaking, and a boat ride. "My favorite memory was probably playing soccer and then the cooking class!" finished Doherty.

Beyond Sports was established in 2010 and has grown to become the world leader in international sports tours. They create mutually-beneficial opportunities for U.S. student-athletes, international athletes, and international youth to enjoy a life-changing cross-cultural experience through sport. They are a team of former college athletes, educators, coaches, and international adventurers who are passionate about "Connecting the World Through Sports!"